Paris, G. Charpentier, 1881.
12mo [180 x 124 mm] of (4) ll., 345 pp., (3) pp. Bound in black half-morocco, spine ribbed, sprinkled top edge, untrimmed edges. Contemporary binding.
First edition of this classic of Provençal literature, one of only 280 copies printed. Clouzot, p.81 ; Carteret, I, 196 ; Vicaire, III, 53.
Copy N°15, one of the 275 copies printed on Dutch paper.
«A novel by Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) published in 1881. Daudet wanted above all to describe here the southern politician […]. With his fluency, his verve, his carefreeness, ‘Numa Roumestan’ is similar to ‘Tartarin’, and Daudet, like to the latest, gave him a lot of his own tenderness and good-naturedness». (Dictionnaire des Œuvres, IV, 818).
Precious copy offered by the author to his brother Ernest, bearing this autograph dedication signed on the half-title: « A Ernest, tendrement, Alphonse ».
Ernest Daudet (1837-1921) is a French writer and journalist. Alphonse‘s elder brother, he first devotes himself to trade, according to his family’s wish. Wanting to become a writer, he ends up going to Paris and starts to contribute to various Parisian and provincial newspapers. At the same time, he joins the Senate as a secretary-editor. He publishes about 30 novels and contributes to many newspapers, often pseudonymously. It’s Ernest who welcomes the Petit Chose in Paris when he arrives gare de Lyon, coming out from the third class coach, after a 48 hours trip. We are in 1858, Alphonse is 18. We can note in Ernest Daudet’s significant work a volume of captivating literary memoirs, published in 1882 under the title: Mon frère et moi, souvenirs d’enfance et de jeunesse. Ernest Daudet was not as successful as his brother, but his serious talent was well appreciated.
A moving copy of this classic of Provençal literature, preserved in its contemporary binding and dedicated by the author to his brother Ernest.
Dedicated copies of Daudet’s great original editions are very sought-after.
