Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Saturday, March 16, 2024

The Wartime Rats of Lucien Laforge


Scheduled for publication in 1917, The Rat Wins [Ronge-maille vainquer in French], written by Lucien Descaves and  illustrated by Lucien Laforge was banned in France for its antiwar and anti-military—(dare we say pro-rat)—stance. Thus, Descaves’ incendiary little work did not appear until 1920, when the censors finally waved their white flag and surrendered to reality. Lucien Laforge (1889–1952) was a French pacifist cartoonist associated with the libertarian movement. What the rats of these illustrations embody should not need explanation.









































Source: Ronge-maille vainquer [The Rat Wins] by Lucien Descaves, illustrated by Lucien Laforge; Amazon.com

1 comment: