“THEIRS WAS THE ‘GRANDE PASSION’ OF THE TIMES”

WEBSTER, Nesta. The Chevalier de Boufflers. London: John Murray, 1924. Octavo, mid-20th-century full green crushed morocco gilt, gilt emblem of the Chevalier on both covers, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $400.

Later edition of Webster’s popular illustrated history of the ‘grande passion’ between the Chevalier de Boufflers and the Comtesse de Sabran during the French Revolution, as seen in their letters and contemporary sources. Finely bound in full crushed morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.

“Besides reconstructing the story I have endeavored to reconstruct the background on which it was enacted—the Revolutionary Era” (Preface). A soldier and a witty poet who also served as governor of Senegal for a number of years, the paradoxical and intriguing Stanislaus de Boufflers was summed up by Antoine de Rivarol in the epigram: “abbé libertin, militaire philosophe, diplomate chansonnier, émigré patriote, républicain courtisan.” First published London, 1910; this is the 10th printing.

Fine condition. A lovely volume.