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Manuscrit autographe signé : L’Inde française

1857130 x 258 mm

INDEED SIGNED AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIT, 32 PAGES.
Luxuriously presented copy in morocco, signed Canape

2 000 

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Description

UNPUBLISHED SIGNED AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT, 32 PAGES IN TIGHT HANDWRITING.
An interesting historiographical study of French settlements in India from the Treaty of Paris in 1763 to the end of the Napoleonic Empire.
Leconte de Lisle expressed sympathy and admiration, comparing French and English policies in the subcontinent.
Originally from Reunion Island, but in favour of the abolition of slavery, Leconte de Lisle travelled to India in his youth and became fascinated by its civilisation. He wrote several Hindu poems, including The death of Valmiki, Çunacepa or The bow of Çiva.and published it at the end of 1857, French Indiaa text in four parts, the first three of which appeared in the magazine The Present. The magazine died out before the last part could be published, so this text remains unpublished.

"The East is an open field for brilliant individuals, whatever their origin. It is the land of despotism, but also of equality in the face of political fortune... The reasons for our downfall are the ignorance, carelessness and inability of all the governments, without exception, that have succeeded one another in France since Colbert".

"India, thought to have been tamed, rises up and takes its revenge. She may fall back under the joong, but sooner or later she will break this hated jong. Let the English think about this and remember their history. They invaded France and hit it in the heart for three years.  hundred years; they bombarded her ports and burned her fleets; they threw the whole of Europe on her; and yet France stands more powerful than ever. They crushed Hindustan under the heaviest jong imaginable, and yet Hindustan is not stifled. In truth, this people has the instinct for destruction, but it does not have the genius for it; it plunders well, but it kills badly; it is a clumsy assassin, and the morality of history is at least satisfied in this.. "

A luxuriously produced copy in double morocco signed Canape.

 

1857.In-8 oblong, Bound,130 x 258 mm,32 ff.

Vintage binding signed Canape R. D.. Full brown morocco, spine ribbed, framed with a quintuple cold fillet on the boards, red morocco lined counterspreads, fillet framing, moiré silk endpapers, gilt edges. Signet. ex-libris G. de Berny.
Spare spine ends, minor rubbing to headpieces.

Bio

Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle

(born October 22, 1818 in Saint-Paul on Reunion Island 1 and died July 17, 1894 in Voisins - Yvelines)

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