À Peine [1747].
12mo of (1) l., viii, 337 pp., full marbled brown calf, gilt fillets around the covers, spine with raised bands and gilt decoration, gilt edges over marbling. Contemporary binding.
141 x 82 mm.
Very rare first edition of one of the famous literary works of the 18th century, placed on the index on July 28, 1765.
It is mentioned by Edouard Rahir in La Bibliothèque de l’amateur in the chapter “Livres recherchés pour le texte”.
It was published in 1747, after the author had already gained recognition for her letters about Voltaire, with whom she had taken refuge at Cirey. Montesquieu’s Persian Letters served as her model.
A young Peruvian woman writes from Paris to a distant fiancé: arriving in a world unknown to her, she gradually penetrates it, manages to understand its customs, and learns the basics of the language (starting, of course, with the gallant words inspired by her beauty in her admirers); she eventually learns to judge Parisian society beyond its traditional hypocrisy. Madame de Graffigny manages to combine moral satire – highly perceptive (it has even been claimed that Turgot’s economic and social reforms were inspired by it) – with the most delicate and exquisite sense of propriety.
The delicacy and refinement of certain descriptions have led some to say that she cleverly added to Montesquieu’s masterpiece a pinch of Richardson’s Pamela.
Whatever the case, the work enjoyed great success with contemporary society, which fully recognized itself in this mix of clear ideas, subtle critique, and devilishly lively wit.
A beautiful copy in period marbled calf, of one of the important and hard-to-find original editions of the 18th century.
See less information
