1853 Châtiments Victor Hugo First Edition First Printing (Against Napoleon III)

Victor Hugo

Published by [Henri Samuel], 1853

About this Item

Châtiments. Genève; et New-York: Saint-Helier, Dorset street, 19: Imprimerie Universelle [1853]. First Edition. 388 pages plus table. Contemporary half leather miniature binding measures 4.25 x 3", 32mo. In fair condition. Typical shelf wear to boards with rubbing along edges. Corners have noticeable loss from rubbing. Spine in five segments with four raised bands. Gilt work still present. Light abrasions to marbled boards. Nicely marbled end papers remain intact and bright. Silk book marker has sun discoloration on length that remains out of text, but remains bright on inside. Small tear to top edge of page 381. Text block clean and unmarked. Lightly toned. Binding tight and intact. Please see photos. A man of the masses, Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (1802 1885) wrote this as a scathing review of Napoleon III. His hope was to show as much blood on Napoleon III s hands as possible in his writing technique. He attempts to discredit him as a bastard ruler by questioning his legitimacy. He uses references to snakes, crocodiles, worms, bees, wasps. etc. to describe Napoleon. It is said that Napoleon III kept a copy by his bedside. He was said to be so devastated that by the work that he never fully recovered from the first reading. He tried to reconcile with Hugo, even extending an invitation back to France (Hugo declined). First edition recognized by the author, actually printed in Brussels by Henri Samuel. A collection of satires against Napoleon III - it contains the parts that were missing in the truncated edition of Brussels, as well as a 3 page introduction by Victor Hugo at the beginning of the book. First edition, first issue of the first complete edition of Hugo s poetical masterpiece. RAREF1853GLMA - 12/20 COLL1853LGKM - 11/24 - HKREV272. Seller Inventory # COLL1853LGKM

Bibliographic Details

Title: 1853 Châtiments Victor Hugo First Edition ...

Publisher: [Henri Samuel]

Publication Date: 1853

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Fair

Edition: 1st Edition