Monsieur Vénus, Rachilde — 1st Edition

Name: Monsieur Vénus, Rachilde — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4241
Price: 196.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£196.50

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Publication: New York, Covici, Friede Publishers, 1929

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 217.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book presents beautifully in its original yellow cloth, which remains vibrant and largely shielded from significant shelf-wear. The silver-stamped design on the upper board is impressively bright and completely unoxidised. Some minor rubbing and subtle darkening are present at the spine ends, alongside mild age-toning to the untrimmed text-block edges. Internally, the binding is tight and square, with the pages remaining crisp, bright, and free of foxing, save for a neat contemporary ownership signature ("C. Harvey"). A highly attractive, well-preserved copy.

Catalogue Note: This early English translation of Rachilde’s decadent masterpiece is a highly sought-after edition, translated by Madeleine Boyd. The volume is significantly elevated by the striking, stylised illustrations by Majeska, which perfectly capture the novel's subversive and avant-garde spirit. It also features an introduction by Ernest Boyd and a preface by Maurice Barrès, providing crucial literary context.

Provenance includes a neat, understated previous ownership signature to the endpaper. Copies of this specific illustrated edition in such well-preserved, bright condition are increasingly scarce on the open market, making it a desirable acquisition for collectors of decadent literature or early 20th-century illustrated volumes.

First published in France to immense scandal, Monsieur Vénus is a cornerstone of the French Decadent movement. Known to contemporaries like Maurice Barrès as "demoiselle Baudelaire", Rachilde subverts traditional gender roles and sexual mores through the story of Raoule de Vénérande, a wealthy aristocratic woman who takes a young, effeminate florist as her lover. Raoule systematically strips him of his masculinity, transforming him into her kept "mistress." Rachilde's provocative exploration of gender fluidity, sadomasochism, and aestheticism remains as audacious today as it was at the fin de siècle, offering a dark, glittering critique of societal norms.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Rachilde

Book Publisher: Covici, Friede Publishers

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 217

Book Publication Year: 1929

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Majeska

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: New York City, United States

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.