YOURCENAR (Marguerite). L’œuvre au Noir. Paris: Gallimard, [1968]. — In-8, 201 x 138: 340 pp., (3 leaves, the last one blank), printed cover. Paperback, padded cover, with illustrated dust jacket. First edition of this historical novel. “*L’Œuvre au Noir* is the story of a fictional character, Zénon—a physician, alchemist, and philosopher—from his illegitimate birth in Bruges in the early 16th century to the tragic catastrophe that ends his life. We follow him on his vast journeys across Europe and the Levant of his time, in his work as a physician to the plague-stricken and the poor and in his role as court physician, in his research that was ahead of the official science of his day and in his critique of knowledge itself, in his explorations of mind and body, and in his perpetual and perilous balancing act between rebellion and compromise” (publisher’s summary). A copy from the standard print run, featuring an autographed dedication by the author on the half-title page: To Jean Couvry // a tribute from the author // Marguerite Yourcenar // Human Anguish // in the 16th century Soiling and a few small stains on the cover. Creases and tears on the dust jacket.