Auguste de Villiers de L'Isle Adam — Nouveaux Contes Cruels

Paris, A La Librairie Illustree, 1888. First edition. Paperback. A first edition of this collection of horror tales by French symbolist author Auguste de Villiers. An important collection of horror stories, which pioneered the short story genre conte cruel. This genre of writing was adopted by Charles Birkin, Maurice Level and Roald Dahl. Scarce in the original wraps.  This first edition is undated as called for. In the original French. Villiers' typically wrote in a Romantic style, with fantastic plots filled with mystery and horror. In the publisher's original wraps. Externally, smart. Chips to the extremities and loss to the head and tail of spine. Fading to the wraps. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright. Several gatherings remain unopened at the top edge. Occasional light spots to pages. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .