Beschreibung
The original French first edition of Jean-Francois Marmonetal's controversial and banned novel on the life of Belisarius, illustrated. The first edition of this work. In the original French. Illustrated with a frontispiece, and three plates. Collated, complete. Collated from Jisc from a copy held at the University of Oxford Libraries. 'Belisaire' is a French novel about the life of Belisarius, a Byzantine general. This novel popularised the fictitious tale of Belisarius being reduced to a beggar by Justinian I, despite his great services to the Empire throughout his life. Marmontel uses that tale to show an example of the monarchy and its ingratitude towards their faithful servants, indicating that Louis XV was another ungrateful monarch. This is an interesting viewpoint, as this book was written only twenty years before the uprising of the French Revolution. This novel was banned when it was published by the Sorbonne, because chapter XV extols religious tolerance. Written by Jean-Francois Marmontel, a French historian, and member of the Encyclopedistes movement. He gained the patronage of Madame de Pompadour, gaining a place as a civil servant, and the management of the official journal 'La Mercure'. In the original calf binding. Externally, generally smart. Light rubbing and marking to the boards and spine. Some loss to the head and tail of the spine. A little bumping to the extremities. Small cracks to the head and tail of the joints. Hinges are starting but firm. Front endpaper, frontispiece, and title page are working loose and may detach. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned and generally clean with the odd spot. Small closed tear to leaf a1, no loss. Very Good. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 684P4
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