12mo: [2]-252-[3, 1 bl.] pp. (sl. toned). Contemp. calf, gilt spine with 4 raised bands (rubbed at joints, a few repairs). Good copy
Extremely rare early Brussels ed. of the first (and, perhaps, the greatest) historical and psychological novel in French (1st ed. 1678) - a milestone in the history of European fiction. Avoiding the excesses of contemporary heroic romance and rhetoric, La Fayette preferred to explore the realities of human emotion when exposed to love and jealousy and told a remarkably modern story of a virtuous young wife who suppressed her passion for a nobleman in the name of honour and duty. Set in the previous century during the reign of Henri II and with carefully researched historical detail, the novel nevertheless pursues themes of individuality and public expectation absolutely contemporary to its author's times. Joannes de Smedt was active in Brussels 1701-1718. Ref. WorldCat (4 copies in UK and Germany only). - Not in KBR, STCV, Unicat. Prov. Unidentified armorial bookpl. 'ex libris C.J.S.'
