The Girl With the Golden Eyes

  • New York: Williams, Belasco and Meyers, 1930
By Balzac, Honoré De; Ernest Dowson (trans.)
New York: Williams, Belasco and Meyers, 1930. Reprint. Large octavo (24.5cm); black cloth boards, stamped in gilt, beveled edges; 154pp frontis.,5 plates. Gilt dulled on spine; extremities rubbed, thin spots along spine and leading corners; mild soiling and wear. Top edge stained black, fore edge dackled; some interior toning and handling wear, else Very Good overall.

This 1833 novella (and part of his "History of the Thirteen" trilogy) may not be regarded as Balzac's best work, but it is perhaps one of his most scandalous. It involves a wealthy wastrel getting himself involved with a young lady who seems too good to be true—just the thing to turn a young man's fancy to murder (attempted). The murder (actual) happens shortly afterwards, but not before a shocking revelation... Might qualify as erotica if you are turned on by overlong lectures on Parisian misery. This 1930 reprint also contains a smattering of spicy (for 1930) b/w plate illustrations.

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Lorne Bair Rare Books

Specializing in The history, literature, and art of American social movements, including Civil Rights, Feminism, Labor History, Radical Politics, and Counterculture.