282 - SAINT-SIMON, Louis de Rouvroy, Duke of. The Complete and Authentic Memoirs of the Duke of Saint-Simon on the Reign of Louis XIV and the Regency.

SAINT-SIMON, Louis de Rouvroy, Duke of. The Complete and Authentic Memoirs of the Duke of Saint-Simon on the Reign of Louis XIV and the Regency. Complete collection of the memoirs of the Duke of Saint-Simon, faithfully reproduced. Paris, Hachette et Cie, 1871–1872. 13 in-8 volumes, duck-blue half-shagreen with blind-stamped edging, spine with raised bands and blind-stamped author, title, and volume number in gold, speckled head, original covers preserved (later binding). Spine slightly faded, minimal scuffing. Covers slightly soiled, with scattered small foxing spots, mainly in the margins. An excellent edition of the famous memoirs of the Duke of Saint-Simon (1675–1755), featuring the text collated from the author’s original manuscript by Adolphe Chéruel. It includes a biographical and literary note by Sainte-Beuve serving as a preface and an analytical table of contents at the end. These Memoirs constitute an unparalleled masterpiece of French historiography on the reign of Louis XIV and the Regency of the Duke of Orléans. Published only in 1829, it exerted a decisive influence on major authors such as Chateaubriand, Stendhal, Balzac, and Proust. A delightful set, complete in 13 volumes.