The Adventures of Telemachus, the Son of Ulysses.
Paris: Printed for Theophilus Barrois junior, Bookseller for foreign Books, 1806. A New Edition, revised and corrected. Full brown tree calf, ornate gilt rules, marbled edges and endpapers. Duodecimo. [iv], 427 ; [iv], 457, [1]. In French and English, translated by Des Maizeaux. Edges rubbed and worn, gilt lightly worn, spines chipped, vol. 2 missing bottom inch of spine foot, vol. 1 one-inch crack front hinge, front hinges starting, light foxing throughout, several small surface abrasions to endpapers, else very good. Overall a sturdy and serviceable copy. Item #236819
FOR THE SON OF A KING
Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon was a French Catholic archbishop, a man of tolerance living during a period of great strife between Protestants and Catholics. He was opposed by the church and state for his liberal views on education and mystical prayer. Nevertheless, he was summoned to tutor the unruly grandson and heir of Louis XIV, who he wrote Telemachus for in 1699. Originally anonymously published, the story follows Telemachus's instruction as Odysseus' heir and rebuked Louis XIV's autocratic regime, encouraging his heir to value qualities like brotherhood, altruism, and parliamentary systems.
The Adventures of Telemachus saw roaring success in England throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and was frequently given to young boys as part of their education, ending up in the hands of thinkers like Rousseau and Montesquieu. This edition came as one of many bilingual issues released during this fervor, including a discourse on epic poetry.
This ornate copy is bound in beautiful tree calf and has marbled edges and endpapers.
Price: $400.00