The adventures of Telemachus, the son of Ulysses. Translated from the French of Messire François Salignac de la Mothe-Fénélon, Archbishop of Cambray.

London: S. Crowder et al. 1776. Two volumes in one. 12mo. [vi], 286; [vi], 360, [4] pp. FIRST EDITION. Full mottled calf, re-backed with gilt rules to covers, spine gilt in compartments with black morocco label; marbled end-papers and sprinkled edges; half-title of Volume I dampstained, some faint spotting to a few pages of Volume II. Item #11644

First edition of this translation by Smollet, which went through six editions. As Smollett counted on translations as one of his main sources of income, he complete quite a number of classics, including Candide, The adventures of Don Quixote and The adventures of Gil Blas. De la Mothe-Fénélon (1651-1715) was a French theologian and writer as well as the leader of the heretical form of mysticism known as quietism. NCBEL, 2, 965.

Price: $750.00