Pierre Loti — Japan (Madame Chrysantheme)

New York , Frederick A. Stokes Company , c1930. Cloth. An uncommon illustrated translation of Pierre Loti's influential novel, with the very scarce unclipped dust wrapper. An undated US edition of this novel published by Frederick A. Stokes. With the very scarce original unclipped dust wrapper.Translated from the French by Laura Ensor.Copiously illustrated throughout, including a colour frontispiece and numerous vignettes by Rossi and Myrbach. This novel, written in the format of a naval officer's journal, closely follows a one-month paid relationship with Kiku (Chrysanthemum) while stationed in Nagasaki, Japan. First published in 1887, the novel was highly popular, runnning to twenty-five editions in the first five years of its publication, and is considered a key work in shaping western attitudes towards Japan at the turn of the century. Loti was himself a French naval officer as well as novelist, known for his exotic novels and short stories. In the original cloth binding, with original spine title label. With the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, very smart, with sunning to the spine label and slight cocking to the spine. Slight rubbing and bumping to the extremities. Dust wrapper is very smart, with minor edge wear and minor loss to the spine head. Toning and a few spots to the wrap, with a minor tide mark to the front panel. Internally, firmly bound with bright and clean pages. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Rossi; Myrbach. Very Good Indeed/Very Good Indeed.