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BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Les Diaboliques.
See original version (French)
BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules). Les Diaboliques.
See original version (French)
Lot no. 65
BARBEY D'AUREVILLY (Jules).
Les Diaboliques.
Paris: E. Dentu, 1874. - In-12, 183 x 115: (1 f.), VIII pp. pp. (7)-354, (1 f.), printed cover. Jansenist wine lees morocco, spine ribbed, cold roulette between two double gilt fillets inside, gilt fleuron on outer corners, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (Gruel).
In French in the text, 300.
Sought-after first edition of this collection of 6 tragic and cruel short stories, including: Le Rideau cramoisi, Le Plus Bel Amour de Don Juan, Le Bonheur dans le crime, Le Dessous de cartes d'une partie de whist, À un dîner d'athées and La Vengeance d'une femme.
"The publication of Les Diaboliques as a collection came at the end of Barbey d'Aurevilly's literary career, but the project had been under way for a long time. It took shape in the late 1840s, at the time of Barbey's conversion to ultramontane Catholicism. Le Dessous de cartes d'une partie de whist, written in 1848 and published in serial form in La Mode in 1850, was intended to form part of a set, which Barbey initially entitled Ricochets de conversations. The other Diaboliques were composed later, between 1863 and 1873. Some first appeared in the press ("Le Plus Bel Amour de Don Juan", 1867; "Le Bonheur dans le crime", 1871), before being included in the work published by Dentu in 1874. Others are unpublished" (Mathilde Labbé, BNF "Les Essentiels" website).
2,200 copies of the edition were published and sold out in four days. Despite the book's favourable reception, following an article by Paul Girard in the 24 November 1874 issue of Charivari, the author and publisher were charged with insulting morals and decency. The public prosecutor had 480 copies of the work seized, but thanks to the support of Arsène Houssaye and then Gambetta, Barbey d'Aurevilly's case was dismissed on 21 January 1875, although the seized copies were destroyed.
This copy is a first issue, with no mention of the edition and with the title in a red band on the cover. The cover is, as always, dated 1875 on the spine. Perfectly bound by Gruel, this copy is also enriched with a portrait of the author engraved by Rajon on China paper, as well as an autograph card by Barbey d'Aurevilly.
The card, measuring 137 by 89 millimetres, is undated and addressed to "Monsieur Dumas". Barbey informs his correspondent that a portrait of him is to be brought to him: "I find it good, - insofar as a devil of a man can be happy with his portrait. You, who are not me, I hope you will be very happy with this effigy. The same young man will, if you like, give you the portrait of Mm Akermann which he has made into a masterpiece." The card does not bear the author's autograph, but it is reproduced in green on the reverse.
Spine slightly faded. The back cover has been restored.
Provenance: signature L. Manchon on the front cover.
Joint :
- ROPS (Félicien). [Dix eaux-fortes pour illustrer les Diaboliques]. [Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1886]. - In-8, 9 plates, leaves.
Suite of 9 etchings drawn and engraved by Félicien ROPS for Barbey d'Aurevilly's Diaboliques. The portrait of the author engraved by Rajon is missing but a copy, on chine, is bound in the book.
Fine proofs with the letter on laid paper. Without the publisher's portfolio.
See original version (French)
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