Theophile Gautier — La Comedia de la Mort

Paris, Desessart, 1838 . First edition. Leather. The first edition of the macabre poetry of Theophile Gautier. Gautier ruminates on the theme of death, viewing it as an escape from the tortures of life. In the original French.A bright copy of the first edition of the macabre poetry of Theophile Gautier, a French poet, dramatist and literary critic renowned as an ardent defender of Romanticism.Viewed by critics as influenced by the works of Shakespeare, Goethe and Dante, Gautier assumes a romantic world view in his exploration of the various aspects of death. Several of the poems in this collection have been set as melodies by composers such as Berlioz, Bizet, Fauré, and Duparc.With a striking illustrated frontispiece by Louis Boulanger, engraved by Lacoste.With the armorial bookplate of British peer and politician Oliver Brett to the front pastedown.An attractively bound first edition of these Romantic poems. In a bright full morocco binding, with gilt dentelles. Externally, excellent, with light rubbing to head of joints and some light marks to board perimeters. Hinges a touch strained, with boards firmly held. Armorial bookplate to front pastedown. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and generally clean, with instances of light spotting to first and last few leaves. Very Good . Ill.: Louis Boulanger. Very Good .