Reflections on Suicide.

Small 8vo (6 1/2" x 4"), original printed boards, 96 pp. Spine gone, hinges a little weak, but still firm, a little edge wear, and some significant soiling or staining to covers, signatures on front pastedown and endpapers, some soiling, staining and foxing to contents. Still a very respectable copy. Germaine (Madame) de Stael (1766-1817) was born in Paris, but was actually part of the Swedish nobility, and was a well-known writer and literary critic during her time. She published a number of "best selling" novels during the French revolutionary period, and her literary criticism had considerable influence. Her well-known conflict with Napoleon seems to have helped secure her position among intellectuals of her time, and bolstered her own ego in the process. Her work on suicide first appeared in 1813, and begins with a short letter to the Prince of Sweden where she points out the work was written during a difficult time in her life. She seems to argue that while many consider suicide because of the "excess of misery, " and forfeit their lives because of it. However, she appears to suggest that others may accept death for a higher purpose than to evade personal misery. De Stael also addresses some deeply philosophical issues of suicide, including the influence of suffering on the mind, and the dignity of man. ODB.