Description

FIRST EDITION.

A historical novel set during the consulship of Anastasius and Rufus, in the year 1245 of Rome, or 492 of the Christian era, in which Felix Florentius, a wealthy Gallic lord, returns from a trip to Constantinople to take possession of the vast estate that the virtuous emperor Majorian, his mother's uncle, had granted to his family during his short and brilliant reign.

The book was a great success when it was published. It was Stendhal's bedside book for 51 hours, as can be seen from the copy in the Milan library with this note:

"finished at 5 o'clock
27 April 1822.
started
25th at 2 ½ [hours].
Read in 51 hours."

Julia Sévéra was also, according to the Bouvard and Pécuchet, one of Gustave Flaubert's many bibliographical references for his unfinished novel.

The novel, bound in three volumes, is preserved in very elegant contemporary bindings.