13 - [ΞΕΝΟΦΩΝ Ο ΝΕΟΣ] XENOPHON THE YOUNG: [Οι κατ Ανθία και Αβρακώμη Εφεσιακοί λόγοι], Les Αmours d’ Abrocome et d'Anthia, Histoire Éphésienne. Paris, 1748

[ΞΕΝΟΦΩΝ Ο ΝΕΟΣ] XENOPHON THE YOUNG: [Οι κατ Ανθία και Αβρακώμη Εφεσιακοί λόγοι], Les Αmours d’ Abrocome et d'Anthia, Histoire Éphésienne. Paris, 1748 First edition in French of this charming ancient Greek novel. In 8vo. Contemporary full leather, spine richly gilt, some light wear to covers. Text clean and bright, with a few isolated spots in places. Complete: title, [28], 249 pp. Overall a very good copy. This 2nd-century literary work is highly characteristic of the atmosphere of wealthy life in the late Hellenistic Levant. The plot follows a couple in love: the lady disappears, her beloved searches for her but is captured by pirates, both are enslaved-yet their love overcomes all obstacles. The text survives in a single 13th-century manuscript, clear evidence of its popularity among the Byzantines of that time. Rediscovered in the early modern period, such ancient Greek love stories became especially appealing to the French upper classes during the Enlightenment, read by ladies and studied in noble salons. An ancient Greek novel, here published in French for the first time.