Polar noir by Maurice Raphaël under pseudonym

Description

Paris, Éditions du Scorpion, 1949, octavo, 229 pp., paperback, illustrated cover. Original edition. Ange Bastiani is the main pen name of Victor Maurice Élie Jean Le Page (1918–1977), a French crime novelist who also used pseudonyms such as Ralph Bertis, Luigi Da Costa, and Vic Vorlier. After World War II, he began writing under the name Maurice Raphaël, with prose marked by Céline’s influence—argot, scabrous language, and deep pessimism. His works often explore the criminal underworld, particularly Corsican and Marseille gangs. Known for his troubled past, including collaboration allegations and prison time, he later became a prolific author in crime fiction, erotic novels, and theater.