227 - REGNIER, Henri de. *L'Escapade*.

REGNIER, Henri de. *L'Escapade*. Paris, Mercure de France, 1926. In-8 (25 x 16 cm), half-maroquin with corner pieces, ribbed spine, gilt fillets forming squares, gilt upper edge. Binding signed “Charles de Samblanx” on the upper endpaper. Inside covers and endpapers decorated in the same style as the outer covers. Two original covers preserved with the spines. 270 pp. Corners damaged. First edition. Print run of 2,321 copies. This copy is one of 385 printed on Holland van Gelder vellum (second-grade paper), bears the number 270, has very wide margins, and is untrimmed. A novel begun in March 1923 and written in August–September 1925, published in 1926 by Mercure de France. "... the brief historical novel *L'Escapade*, set in 1738–1739, once again depicts the violence of carnal life; but he contrasts the various lecherous and mesmerized male characters with a truly remarkable heroine. ...”, who falls in love with a handsome horseman—in fact, the leader of a band of brigands—whom she joins and then kills after a night of love during which she is treated with violence and contempt. (Patrick Besnier, “Henri de Régnier: From Mallarmé to Art Deco,” Fayard, 2015) A beautifully presented copy in a half-maroquin binding with corner pieces by Charles de Samblanx.