Andre Malraux. 
 
Gallimard: 1946. Cream-covered wraps. Octavo. Later printing. A few stains on the wraps. The corners on the heel and the crown of the spine are exposed. Spine shows use and is slightly leaning. Leaves are trimmed. 404 pages. Very good. The author James Houston's copy. In French. Signed by Malraux.
 
22 days in Shanghai, 1927. La Condition Humaine, translated as Man's Fate, follows characters of diverse politics, moral makeups, and addictions as the communist insurrection explodes and the notorious massacre follows. The legendary French man of letters - as much Indian Jones as Jean-Paul Sartre - gave the world a trilogy of political action, grand themes, and bloodlust in 20th century revolutionary Asia. This signed Gallimard edition is one part of that trilogy. 
 
"'What fascinates them in this idea, you see, is not real power, it's the illusion of being able to do exactly as they please. The king's power is the power to govern, isn't it? But man has no urge to govern - he has an urge to compel, as you said. To be more than a man, in a world of men.'"