CONSTANT (Benjamin). - Lot 71

CONSTANT (Benjamin). Adolphe, anecdote trouvé dans les papiers d'un inconnu, et publiée par M. Benjamin de Constant. London : H. Colburn ; Paris : Treuttel et Würtz, 1816. - In-12, 167 x 100 : vij, 128 pp. Dark green half-maroquin with long grain corners, smooth spine decorated, speckled edges (period binding). Paris first edition, published simultaneously with the London edition. This is a second state, i.e., without the name of the printer Crapelet and with the addresses "Londres : H. Colburn ; Paris : Treuttel et Würtz". This famous novel of psychological analysis evokes the author's affair with Madame de Staël, although the heroine, Ellenore, bears many similarities to Miss Lindsay, for whom Benjamin Constant had deep feelings. This is "one of the most beautiful novels in French literature, one of the most mysterious and provocative that has ever been written" (In French in the text). Copies of this edition, with the title retouched, were probably sold in England after the London edition sold out, and probably sold better than the Paris edition. Beautiful copy. Slightly faded back. Some scattered foxing.