299 - VILLEDIEU, Marie-Catherine de. *Les Amours des grands hommes*.

VILLEDIEU, Marie-Catherine de. *Les Amours des grands hommes*. A collection of historical and romantic short stories by Madame de Villedieu, in a lovely full calfskin binding from the period. Amsterdam, André de Hoogenhuysen, 1692. 2 volumes in 1 in-12 volume, brown glossy full calfskin, ribbed spine decorated with gilt fleurons, title label in burgundy morocco, decorated edges, red edges (contemporary binding). 2 blank folios, 235 pp. and 232 pp., vignette of an armillary sphere repeated on the title pages, headpieces, and initials. Binding rubbed with slightly faded gilding; discreet restoration to the cap bands; minimal foxing in the margins. A fine Dutch edition of this collection of short stories by Marie-Catherine de Villedieu (known as Madame de Villedieu), originally published in 1671. In novelistic form, Madame de Villedieu playfully recounts, in the galant style, the love affairs of great historical figures from antiquity, humanizing these “great men” who are often described solely through the harshness of their military or political exploits. The first part is devoted to the figures of Solon, Socrates, Caesar, Bussy d’Amboise, and Cato; the second part focuses on Madame l’Amirale de Brion, d’Andelot, and Alcibiades. A fine copy.