Details
SMITH, Charlotte (1749-1806). The Romance of Real Life. London: T. Cadell, 1787.
3 volumes, 8° (157 x 97mm). A6, B-O8, P2; (Vol 2) [A2], B-O8; (Vol 3) [A2], B-L8, M6. (A little spotting and staining, neat tear in title of Vol 2.) Contemproary speckled calf, flat gilt spines, yellow edges (spines rubbed at head, lettering-pieces lacking).
FIRST EDITION. These fifteen tales, chosen because they 'might lead us to form awful ideas of the force and nature of human passions', are taken from Francois Gayot de Pitaval's work Les causes célèbres and the later remodelling of that work by Richer. The story of 'The Chevalier Morsan' has some interesting parallels with the tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape disguised as a woman. The Chevalier of the title was sometimes said to be 'the son of a Prince, who was for reasons of State obliged to be concealed.' His real identity was never discovered but one possiblitity was that he was a woman who had disguised herself as a man to escape her husband. (3)
3 volumes, 8° (157 x 97mm). A6, B-O8, P2; (Vol 2) [A2], B-O8; (Vol 3) [A2], B-L8, M6. (A little spotting and staining, neat tear in title of Vol 2.) Contemproary speckled calf, flat gilt spines, yellow edges (spines rubbed at head, lettering-pieces lacking).
FIRST EDITION. These fifteen tales, chosen because they 'might lead us to form awful ideas of the force and nature of human passions', are taken from Francois Gayot de Pitaval's work Les causes célèbres and the later remodelling of that work by Richer. The story of 'The Chevalier Morsan' has some interesting parallels with the tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape disguised as a woman. The Chevalier of the title was sometimes said to be 'the son of a Prince, who was for reasons of State obliged to be concealed.' His real identity was never discovered but one possiblitity was that he was a woman who had disguised herself as a man to escape her husband. (3)
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