The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillana. Rendered Into English by Henri Van Laun. With an Introductory Notice, life of Lesage, and Notes Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1886.
First edition of Van Laun's translation. Presentation copy, inscribed by Van Laun on the half-title of volume I: "J. Knight Esq./with the kind regards/of Henri van Laun."
Three quarto volumes. With twenty-one full-page illustrations inserted throughout. Bound in contemporary half dark brown levant morocco over brown cloth boards, spines lettered in gilt in compartments, five raised bands, top edge gilt, others uncut, marbled endleaves. Spines slightly sunned, some rubbing to bindings, some plates foxed. A very good set.
Alain-Rene Le Sage (1668-1747) was a French novelist and playwright. He wrote Gil Blas from 1715 to 1735 and is considered to be the last picaresque masterpiece. The title character, a low-born rogue, lives by his wits and gets into many scrapes throughout his life.
ID:
3741
$
300