MAISTRE (Joseph de). Les Soirées de Saint-Pétersbourg, ou entretiens sur le gouvernement temporel de la providence: suivi d'un traité sur les sacrifices. Paris: Librairie grecque, latine et française, 1821. - 2 volumes in-8, blond half calf, smooth spine decorated, marbled edges (period binding). Posthumous first edition of this important work by Joseph de Maistre, published only a few months after his death. It is illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author, lithographed by Villain after a drawing by Bouillon. "Les Soirées marks an original attempt to revive the great Platonic tradition of dialogue. Divided into eleven conversations, the dialogue takes place between three men: a young French émigré (the chevalier), a Russian notable (the senator), and Maistre, who takes on the role of the count. Whether discussing the misfortune of the just, the origin of language, the usefulness of prayer, animals, war, executioners, sacrifices, sovereignty, heredity, or castigating Protestants, scientists, revolutionaries, Rousseau, Voltaire or Locke, [...] the trio tirelessly asserts one and the same idea, the pillar of Maistrian theocratic dialectic: "Je sais que je ne sais rien"; translate: divine Providence governs humanity" (Benoît Yvert, in: "En français dans le texte", n° 229). A good copy in contemporary binding. Used rubbing and a few stains on spine. Some foxing.