RADCLIFFE, Ann. Lot n° 107

Eleonor of Rosalba or The Confessional of the Black Penitents. Translated from English by Mary Gay. Paris & Geneva, Le Petit & J.J. Paschoud, 1797. 7 volumes in 3 volumes in-12 (10 x 80 mm). of an engraved frontispiece, 2 ff.n.ch., 179 pp. for the T. I; engraved frontispiece, 2 ff.n.ch., 171 pp.; for the T. II; a frontispiece, 212 pp, 12 f.n.ch (white) for T. III; one frontispiece, 178 pp. for T. IV; one frontispiece, 178 pp. for T. V; one frontispiece, 177 pp. for T. VI; one frontispiece, 207 pp. for T. VII; brown basane, cold framing net, smooth decorated back, title piece and tomaison respectively of red and black morocco, speckled edges (period binding). Quérard, VII, 430; see Loliée, Romans noirs, 489. Original edition of the French translation by Mary Gay-Allard. It is under this title that the book is quoted in the preface of L'Italien published by Denné the same year in Morellet's translation. "Ann Radcliffe and M.G.'Monk' Lewis share the honour of having invented the'noir novel' or terrifying ('Tale of terror'). This literary genre was the most successful. The Italian, which is one of the author's best works, tells the story of a persecuted young girl" (Laffont-Bompiani). Complete copy of the seven beautiful frontispieces engraved after Quévédo's drawings. A few small spots, pp. 81/82 of Volume II repaired with adhesive tape.