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This book is "The Second Empire" by Philip Guedalla. This reprint was published in "The People's Library" by Hodder and Stoughton in 1928. The book deals with Bonapartism, the return of the Bourbons, the Second Republic, the usurpation of power and reign of Louie - Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III) as Emperor of France, and the various military conflicts (Franco - Prussian War, 2nd Italian War of Independence) and political debacles of that regime (Mexico - Maximillian, etc). One need not invent anything for history to be fascinating! No illustrations in this edition, but the book is a delight to read. ***************************************** Said Mr. Guedalla in reference to his book: "This book attempts to tell, with the full accuracy of history, one of the finest stories in the world. For the world's true stories are by far its best. What has fiction or the drama to shew that even distantly approaches the tragedies of Caesar, Cleopatra, Mary Stuart, Philip II, Marie Antoinette, or Napoleon? The tragic comedians of the Second Empire are of that high order, although their piece was played out within memory of men still living, and two members of that company - the Empress and Émile Olliver - lived until almost yesterday. Written seven years ago, it was the writer's first attempt at historical narrative. Since then he may, perhaps, have learnt to touch his instrument with a surer hand. Or perhaps not. But, in any case, he will never have a finer story to tell; and in re-reading it and (where fresh material was available) revising it, he has resisted the temptation to re-write it." **************************************** SERIES : The People's Library / TITLE : The Second Empire / AUTHOR : Philip Guedalla (1889 - 1944 - English barrister, travel writer, historian and biographer) / IMPRINT : Hodder and Stoughton / PLACE : London / EDITION : Reprint issued without illustrations for "The People's Library"; First Printing of this edition. / STATUS ; OP - Out of Print / PHYSICAL DETAILS : Trade hardcover; has the author's brief Preface, written for this edition; contains an Index; 365 pages; 4 3/8" x 6 3/4" (approx. 16mo); blue cloth-covered boards with black lettering on spine. front board has the publisher's device of a fruiting tree stamped in blind.Sans dust-jacket. ************************************** CONDITION - GOOD PLUS - This is a previously owned book, that has seen use and shows the signs of that use, but which is clean and serviceable, with the following particulars noted :: EXTERIOR -- Spine is rubbed and darkened, and the spine extremities are compressed and display abrasion , with fraying just starting; joints are rubbed; the front board has but mild surface rub, displaying nicely - so, too, the rear board; board corner tips are softly bumped. Text-block edges are toned, else clean. / BINDING -- The book has obviously been read, and thus not so tight in the casing as when issue - opening widely and exposing thread and etc. at a few points (I have shown one instance of this type of opening - often referred to as 'cracking' ); else the binding remains fairly solid with no detached or loose leaves. / INTERIOR -- The end-papers display production-related toning. there are, scattered through the book, small smudges and soft 'tea' stains - but nothing f any particular egregiousness - thee whole being basically clean and serviceable. No marginalia, underling or writing. The book does have the previous owner's heraldic book plate, and opposite , on the flyleaf, the joint marital signature of the same, dated 13 October 1962. /. Seller Inventory # 1876
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