Le Monde comme il est [The World As It Is]

Brussells: Louis Hauman et Comp. Good. Marbled boards. 1836. 1st Brussells. CUSTINE, Astolphe (Marquis de) . As It Is] . lgian edition. 16mo. Half-leather, marbled boards. 4 raised band s, gilt titles on burgundy labels, marbled edges. 278 pp. 322 pp. First published in Paris in a larger format,1835.##### . omedy, quite popular in its time. The protagonist, Edmond d'Offli ze, boasts that he can seduce a very rich heiress whose face is s o ugly that it would be acceptable "only in the land of the frogs ." A great muddle of ardor and manners ensues. The Marquis de Cus tine (1790-1857) was a French aristocrat. His father and grandfat her sympathized with the French Revolution but were both guillot ined. Custine's mother was imprisoned and barely escaped the same fate. Although happily married, Custine lived openly in Paris w ith his English lover Edward Saint-Barbe. Aloys, another of his n ovels deals explicitly with homosexuality long before such subjec ts were common to discuss openly. . face wear to boards; moderate wear to extremities. Corners and sp ine ends lightly rubbed, some discoloration. Text block is very g ood; clean and tight with only occasional foxing. Residue of rem oved bookplates on fep; prior owner’s inked signature in each v olume. Very presentable. .