“PROFOUND OBSERVATION OF HUMAN NATURE IN ITS COMPLEXITY AND IN ITS FOIBLES”

MOLIERE. Oeuvres Completes. Paris: Garnier Freres, 1969. Two volumes. Octavo, contemporary half brown sheep, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, patterned endpapers, top edges gilt. $600.

Handsomely bound volumes of Molière’s complete works.

"Molière may be said to have created modern French comedy by giving it a serious basis, where there had previously been little but farces and comedies of intrigue… His genius lay in his ability to combine profound observation of human nature in its complexity and in its foibles with the power of presenting these in their amusing aspect" (Harvey & Heseltine, 487). Edited with notes, bibliography and a life of Molière by Robert Jouanny, and illustrated with numerous reproductions of illustrations from historic Molière editions.

Fine condition.