Edmond About — Le Roi Des Montagnes

Paris, Librairie Hachette et Cie, 1872 . Vellum. A scarce edition of this satirical adventure novel by French writer Edmond François Valentin concerning brigands and corruption in 18th century Athens. Elegantly rebound in paper vellum wrapped cloth with gilt decoration.First published in 1856, this was his best-known novel. This volume is the tenth edition.Set in 19th-century Greece, a time when the countryside was plagued by brigands and banditry, this novel follows the adventures of a French botanist, Hermann Schultz, in search of rare plants. He meets two English women, Mrs. Simons and her daughter Mary, and befriends them, before all three are abducted by a band of brigands led by notorious bandit chief, the king of the mountains, Hatzistavros. This work is a subtle satirical story of Greek institutions and corrupt authorities, as well as European romanticism about the Orient and ancient Greece. Rebound in paper vellum wrapped cloth. Externally, smart. The odd handling mark with slight soiling, not unusual for this pale binding. Small spot of paper stuck to upper left corner of front board, likely from an attempt to repair loss. Slight loss to paper of front board and joints from rubbing. Rubbing to spine label. Previous owner's ink inscription to front free endpaper from 1873. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean, if a little age toned. Scattered spotting to first and last few leaves and Page 50, the odd spot heavier to fore edge. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .