LOURDOUEIX H. de.Livre Rare Book
Les Folies du Siecle. Roman Philosophique.
1817réf. 32202438vo pp. iv 299 1 'Table'; folding engraved frontispiece and six plates; contemporary calf spine decorated in gilt with lettered label sprinkled edges; bookplate 'Ex Libris G.H.' This political novel dressed in the form of a dialogue was initiated by Élie Decaze to flatter the current ruling French ministry and show that they were the only serious contenders to rule France. The work describes the return of a young man after his travels full of progressive German ideas. His family all good honest citizens of Paris are unable to understand him and at last believe that he has lost his senses. The family doctor persuades the young man's father to have him committed to a private madhouse. There he finds several lunatics which of course give the author an opportunity of painting the different parties which divide France as various forms of madness. The frontispiece displays a woman dressed as folly casting an image from a magic lantern from this image the young man is inspired to write. Paris: Chez Pillet,
