Limited edition collection in English of the first part of Balzac's LES CENT CONTES DROLATIQUES, inspired by Boccaccio and Rabelais.
Near fine.
Price: $500.00
"He promised himself that he would fare sumptuously of the succulent joints and cunning condiments of Germany whenever he could do so at another's expense"
Balzac began his "cent" amusing short stories with the ambition to publish ten at a time, ten times; he ultimately wrote only thirty. The tales here were the first group issued, in 1832. They were composed simultaneously to the early years of LA COMÉDIE HUMAINE, but are distinct from those works in purpose and style: here, Balzac hearkens back to the aesthetics of sixteenth-century France best embodied by his model Rabelais.
De Bosschère's work bridges the fin-de-siècle symbolist approach of Aubrey Beardsley with a bright Art Nouveau style, favoring dynamic compositions that anticipate, and finally embrace, Art Deco. A mystic and a WWI ex-pat, de Bosschère's works show a fascination with the occult and often evoke an erotic spiritualism. He is one of the few great modernists whose work also harmonizes with the contemporary development of the "weird fiction" aesthetic of the pulp magazines.
London: John Lane, 1926. 9'' x 5.75''. Contemporary full cherry-red calf by Bayntun, double-gilt rules, raised bands, elaborately gilt-stamped spine, blue and green calf spine labels. All edges gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt dentelles. Illustrated by de Bosschère with full-page images in both color and black and white. Introduction by André Maurois. xx, 218, [4] pages. Limited to 3000 copies. Housed in custom red cloth slipcase. Spine head a touch rubbed at joint, else clean and tight.
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