AIGNAN Étienne Lot n° 591

Brunehaut, or the successors of Clovis, a tragedy in five acts and verse, followed by historical notes. Paris, Sale, 1811. In-8, red morocco, border and roulette wheel in frame, coat of arms in center, smooth spine decorated with Napoleonic emblems, Havana morocco title coin, inside roulette wheel, gilt edges (contemporary binding). Original edition of this historical tragedy relating the conflicts between the different branches of the Merovingian dynasty at the end of the 6th and beginning of the 7th century. Etienne Aignan (1773-1824), a member of the Orléans' lower nobility, was first the secretary general of several provincial prefectures, then that of Paris. He wrote letters and poetry, he collaborated with the newspaper La Minerve and wrote historical tragedies: The Death of Louis XVI (1793) and The Martyrdom of Marie-Antoinette of Austria, Queen of France (1796). He was also the author of a translation of the Iliad and several English novels. He was elected to the French Academy in 1814. His play Brunehaut ou les successeurs de Clovis was first performed at the Théâtre français on February 24, 1810. Mademoiselle Raucourt played the role of Brunehaut. Bound with Napoleon's coat of arms, spine decorated with imperial emblems, bees and monogram.