[Rarebooks] OFFER: SATIRIC FANTASY BY A NAPOLEONIC COUNTESS.

[Laderman]

BEAUHARNAIS, FANNY DE, COMTESSE: :   LES NOEUDS ENCHANTES, OU LA BISARRERIE 
DES DESTINEES...[Enchanted Knots or the Bizarrerie of Destiny] Rome : Impr. 
Papale[?], 1789. In-12, 144, 116 Pp. A poet, dramatist and author of much 
erotic fiction, Madame Beauharnais was the aunt of Josephine who married 
Napoleon. In her day she  was famous for her gourmandise and her sexual 
freeness. While Napoleon was in exile he forbade Josephine to visit him. He 
did, however, receive regular visits from Fanny and it is reported that the 
two became fast friends. The Goncourt brothers wrote that "even though 
Fanny would welcome any capable male into her bed, even into her eighth 
decade she maintained a special place in her heart and her bed for 16 year 
old boys." This, however, is a satire directed against some of her 
contemporary literary rivals, using fairy motifs.  Gay Lemonnyer IV, 75,76. 
See volume III P. 341: "Roman Feerie qui renferme une satire dirigee contre 
La Harpe et autre gens de lettres de la epoque et qui presentes un tableau 
une peu vifs."  Translated into German in 1790, it was attributed by 
Lacroix in the Bulletin Bibliophile and "cité par Barbier."  I have not 
been able to locate copies other than those at the BL and BN. Not in OCLC, 
or otherwise in KVK or COPAC. Original calf, Mro. Title piece. Lower 
portion of the backstrip repaired. A Very Good copy, internally, Fine. $850.00
ZITA BOOKS / NEW YORK, N.Y. / G. LADERMAN
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