Oeuvres de Félix Nogaret. L'Aristenete Francais

Oeuvres de Félix Nogaret. 8vo, 2 vols. 19, (1), 226 pp. (4), 244 pp. Very Scarce first edition. Pages are very good. One title page for both books, Tome Second crossed out and Premier written in Ink. L'Aristenete Francais title of 2nd, no pages appear missing, great condition for age. Rare first edition of this libertine adaptation of an equally colourful Greek author's "letters on love" from the 6th century BC. Calling himself the "French Aristaenetus", Nogaret boasts here that his translation is far superior to that of René le Sage; the Biographie Universelle notes that in addition to the translations, Nogaret adds a number of "letters" of his own to the collection. The present copy has a pleasing provenance, preserved in its original binding of Jérome Buonaparte, youngest brother of Napoleon I; and it may well have survived the great fire of 1871 which destroyed most of the Imperial Library. "The majority of Aristenete's letters are concerned with the description of extramarital affairs; they are full of lovers using every trope of erotic literature to praise their beloveds in over-the-top encomia, paramours hatching complicated schemes to achieve their desires, wily go-betweens who help smooth their way, unfaithful spouses barely avoiding capture in the midst of hair-raising and amusing infidelities" Please view the photographs for more information. Items are guaranteed to be very well packaged prior to postage. Tracking details will be forwarded to the purchaser.