Penguin Island, originally published in French in 1908 as L'Île des Pingouins, was written by the French Nobel laureate Anatole France. A 1923 edition, likely illustrated, was a specific publication of this satirical novel.
About the book:
A historical satire: The book chronicles the fictitious history of a colony of penguins mistakenly baptized by a nearsighted monk named Maël. Once given human souls, the penguins develop a society that mirrors the follies and repeated conflicts of Western civilization, particularly that of France.
Targets of critique: Anatole France, who was known for his ironic and skeptical writing, uses the penguin colony to satirize human nature, religion, government, and the repetitious cycles of history.
The Dreyfus Affair: A significant portion of the novel is a blistering critique of the Dreyfus Affair, a major political scandal in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. France, a supporter of Alfred Dreyfus, parodies the case through the "Pyrot Affair" in the book.
The 1923 edition: A specific 1923 illustrated edition was published, featuring artwork by Frank C. Papé and a translation by A.W. Evans. This edition, sometimes referred to as the "first illustrated edition," was released by publisher John Lane, The Bodley Head