CHEVRIER (François-Antoine) - Le Colporteur, histoire morale - Lot 653

CHEVRIER (François-Antoine) - Le Colporteur, histoire morale et critique. London, Chez Jean Nourse, l'an de vérité, 1760; in-12, 228 pp. full calf binding, smooth spine, red title page, edges painted red. Heavy soiling to first few pages. An acerbic libellist, Chevrier spent most of his writing life exposing the pettiness and intrigues of his time. His best-known work is Le Colporteur. The scandal caused by the publication of this novel led the French government to request the extradition of the author, who had gone into exile in Holland. He then died suddenly. It is claimed that he was poisoned on the orders of the French government. "Almost all of Chevrier's books are marked with the corner of impudence, cynicism and villainy: they are all infected with the spirit of satyrdom and the poison of hatred... His Colporteur is filled with disgusting atrocities, and yet with happy projections. (Peignot I/78) Peignot I, Dictionnaire bibliographique des principaux ouvrages condamnés au feu, p. 77 - Gay II, Bibliographie des ouvrages relatifs à l'amour, aux femmes, [.], 435 - Brunet I, Manuel du libraire et de l'amateur de livres, 1842 - Cioranescu I, Bibliographie de la littérature française du XVIIIème, 19425 - Quérard I-196. Expert : M. Philippe HENRY