A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy by Mr. Yorick

Waltham Saint Lawrence: Golden Cockerel Press, 1928. Limited Edition. Near fine. J. E. (Jean Émile) Laboureur. 8vo, 9 x 5 3/4 inches (230 x 145 mm); iv + 152 + ii pages, printed on English hand-made paper in 14 pt. Caslon O.F. type by Robert Gibbins. Copy 394 of 500, with six copper engravings by Jean Émile Laboureur. Original buckram, gilt titling, t.e.g., rest uncut; with RARE RED PRINTED DUST-JACKET, spine slightly sunned and extremities chipped.

[Chanticleer 59; Ransom p. 297, no. 56]. This is a delightfully illustrated edition by the famed COCKEREL PRESS of Laurence Sterne's last novel, issued just three months before his death. In 1765 the author had traveled through France and Italy and wanted to write a book unlike its predecessors who stressed classical learning and objective/descriptive points of view; Sterne's novel was going to be an account of his sentimental journey. It proved to be extremely popular and influential, and helped establish travel writing as a dominant genre in the second half of the 18th century. The narrator is the Reverend Mr. Yorick, who is Sterne's barely disguised alter ego. The book recounts his various adventures, usually of the amorous type, in a series of self-contained episodes. The text of this edition, as stated in the colophon, is taken from the 1870 edition of the work, and is accompanied by six masterful copper-plate engravings by the French artist and engraver Jean Émile Laboureur (1877-1943) who illustrated over 70 literary works, including works by Gide, Mauriac, Maeterlinck, Proust, Giraudoux, Colette, and Stendhal.