SENANCOUR (Étienne de). - Lot 78

SENANCOUR (Étienne de). Obermann. Paris: Librairie d'Abel Ledoux, 1833. - 2 volumes in-8, dark brown half-maroquin with corners, ornate ribbed spine, gilt head, untrimmed, cover and spine preserved (early 20th century binding). Second edition after the very rare 1804 edition. It has been enriched with a preface by Sainte-Beuve in the original edition, and a supplement including a letter and fragments of letters, which had not been published in the original. "According to Yves Peyré, "this novel by letters is the portrait of a soul, the boldly clear cry of someone who is satisfied neither with himself nor with the times" ("En français dans le texte", 209). It was thanks to this edition and to Sainte-Beuve that Senancour was rediscovered and appreciated by the Romantics. It is also through this edition that the name "Obermann" appears for the first time in its more Germanic spelling, with two "n "s at the end. A very fine copy bound in early 20th-century imitation binding. Complete with front and back covers. Spines slightly faded. The interior is very well preserved, with almost no foxing. Restoration to the edge of the leaf on pages 59-60 in the second volume. The spines of the covers are restored.