BAUMAN RARE BOOKS 12 “Bovary C’est Moi”: Scarce First Issue Of Flaubert’s Masterpiece 11FLAUBERT, Gustave. Madame Bovary. Moeurs de Province. Paris, 1857. Two volumes. 12mo, contemporary half brown morocco, custom cloth clamshell box. $9500 Rare first edition, first issue in book form, of Flaubert’s literary masterpiece, “the definitive model of the novel” (Émile Zola) and the work that “ushered the age of realism into modern European literature,” in contemporary binding. Upon publication of Madame Bovary, both Flaubert and his publisher were brought to trial on charges of immorality and narrowly escaped conviction (the same tribunal found Charles Baudelaire guilty on the same charge six months later). Although purportedly based in part on the circumstances of Flaubert’s friend Louise Pradier, the author’s claim that “Madame Bovary is myself,” with his unrelenting objectivity and deep compassion for his characters, earned him a reputation as the great master of the Realist school of French literature. First issue, with misspelling of “Senard” as “Senart” on dedication page. With 36page publisher’s catalogue in its earliest state. Owner booklabel. Interior generally fine with only a few faint finger smudges, light wear to binding, and mild toning to spines. A handsome copy in near-fine condition. “The Ultimate Science Fiction Novel, The Ultimate Horror Story” 12WELLS, H.G. The Island of Dr. Moreau. London, 1896. Octavo, original tan pictorial cloth. $6500 First edition of Wells’ “parable on the beast in man,” with frontispiece illustration. “Often regarded as the father of modern science fiction” (Clute & Grant, 1004), Wells wrote The Island of Dr. Moreau when only 30. Science-fiction writer Gene Wolfe noted that the novel is “the ultimate science fiction novel and the ultimate horror story.” Indeed, The Island of Dr. Moreau is viewed as “a highly significant literary experiment… [that] served to reveal the potential of science fiction to couch serious questions” (Barron, Anatomy of Wonder II1228). “This satirical work is a parable on the beast in man. Part of this work, the gist of Chapter XIV, appeared as an unsigned article in The Saturday Review of 19th of January, 1895” (H.G. Wells Society 8). See Hammond B3; Currey, 420. Horror 100 Best 20. Owner blindstamp to rear flyleaf. Interior quite clean, mild toning to cloth, wear to spine ends. An extremely good copy.
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