APOLLINAIRE Guillaume Les Mamelles de Tirésias

Talvart et Place, I, p.80, 14. 

First edition, current issue paper after 17 copies of large paper.

This surrealist drama in 2 acts and 1 prologue is illustrated with 7 hors-texte engravings based on drawings by Serge Ferrat, a cubist artist.

The book is also accompanied by the score by Germaine Albert-Birot.

This is the first book to use the word “surrealist” as a single word.

The first performance of the play took place at the Théâtre Maubel on 24 June 1917 and presented a resolutely modern drama on stage.

The main character in Mamelles de Tirésias is Thérèse, presented from the very first line as a feminist. Fed up with her husband, who asks only for “lardons”, i.e. food and children, she leaves her marital home and takes a male name: Tirésias. With this new name, Thérèse conquered positions of power in the military, social and political spheres that were usually reserved for men. As for the Husband, he let his feminine side shine through. Now a mother, he miraculously gave birth to 49051 children in a single day.

Nice copy.