Bouvard and Pécuchet, Gustave Flaubert — 1st English Edition

£199.50

Bouvard and Pécuchet, Gustave Flaubert — 1st English Edition

Name: Bouvard and Pécuchet, Gustave Flaubert — 1st English Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4297
Price: 199.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, H.S. Nichols Publisher, 1896

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xvi, 458.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original blue cloth boards remain remarkably bright and attractive, showcasing sharp, unoxidised gilt tooling to both the front board and spine. There is only minor rubbing and light wear to the spine ends and corners, with the binding remaining tight and secure. The page block retains its original deckled edges, exhibiting age-typical tanning and minor spots of foxing that occasionally encroach on the margins. The internal hinges are fully intact, and the text remains highly legible throughout.

Catalogue Note: First English Edition of Flaubert’s posthumously published encyclopedic satire. The text is supplemented with handsomely engraved plates that successfully capture the absurd situations of the narrative.

The volume features highly unique and charming provenance. Affixed to the front pastedown is a whimsical, Alice in Wonderland-themed bookplate belonging to a "Crawford," complete with an illustration and the classic "Queen of Hearts" nursery rhyme. Facing this on the front free endpaper is a playful inscription dated "31/12/1900," reading "To Boutard from Pécuchet," a clever, humorous nod to the novel's bumbling protagonists.

Flaubert’s Bouvard and Pécuchet is a masterpiece of episodic satire that takes aim at the intellectual pretensions of the 19th century. When two Parisian copy-clerks, François Bouvard and Juste Pécuchet, unexpectedly inherit a small fortune, they retire to the countryside to embark on an exhaustive, hopelessly misguided pursuit of all human knowledge. From agriculture to chemistry, and medicine to literature, the duo bounce from one discipline to the next, spectacularly failing at every turn. Flaubert uses their relentless encyclopedic quest to expose the fragility of human understanding, culminating in a brilliantly pessimistic commentary on the limits of science and art.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Gustave Flaubert

Book Publisher: H.S. Nichols Publisher

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 474

Book Publication Year: 1896

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: S. Górski

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.