(PROVENANCE) Candide ou L'Optimisme orne de figures du temps Editions de la Sirene Ltd Ed of 320 Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet)

Candide ou L'Optimisme orne de figures du temps Editions de la Sirene by Voltaire (Candide or Optimism adorned with figures of the time, Sirens Edition) Scarce limited edition of 320. PROVENANCE. Alan Pryce-Jones, distinguished writer, editor and critic (more info below). OVERALL CONDITION: NEAR FINE Published circa 1925 (undated) by M. Audin & Cie in Lyon, France. Limited facsimile edition of 320 luxury copies of the 1749 first edition. In its original French fine publisher binding: 1/4 burgundy morocco over beautiful marbled paper; spine with raised gilt-tooled spine bands separating exquisitely gilded compartments; top edge gilt, others uncut; marbled endpapers; sewn-in red satin ribbon placeholder. Octavo, 7.75" x 5". Collated and complete, including blank flyleaves and colophon page: 253, [2] pp. Richly illustrated throughout: within text, single-page plates, double-page plates, head- and tail pieces and decorated initials. ABOUT THE AUTHOR & BOOK François-Marie Arouet (November 1694 - May 1778), known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, satirist, and historian. Famous for his wit and his criticism of Christianity (especially of the Roman Catholic Church) and of slavery, Voltaire was an advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. Candide is a satire characterized by its tone as well as its erratic, fantastical, and fast-moving plot. A picaresque novel that parodies many adventure and romance clichés, in a tone that is bitter and matter of fact. Immediately after its secretive publication, the book was widely banned on the grounds of blasphemy and sedition. Today, Candide is considered Voltaire's magnum opus and is often listed as part of the Western canon. It is among the most frequently taught works of French literature and one of the greatest works of literature of all time. PROVENANCE Alan Payan Pryce-Jones TD (November 1908 - January 2000) was a British book critic, writer, journalist and Liberal Party politician. He was notably editor of The Times Literary Supplement from 1948 to 1959. Pryce-Jones was assistant editor, The London Mercury, 1928 - 32. He served in the war of 1939 - 45 in France, Italy and Austria. He was editor, The Times Literary Supplement, 1948 - 59, book critic for the New York Herald Tribune, 1963 - 66, the World Journal Tribune, 1967- 68, Newsday, 1969 - 71, and theatre critic for Theatre Arts from 1963. He was director, Old Vic Trust, 1950 - 61, He was a member of Council, Royal College of Music, 1956-61, and program associate, The Humanities and Arts Program, Ford Foundation, NY, 1961 - 63. He was a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery, 1950 - 61. CONDITION REPORT: NEAR FINE for a 100-year-old book in its original binding. External and Binding: NEAR FINE+ Square spine, firm hinges and joints, sharp corners, tight pages. Just light rubbing to the extremities and some top edge gilt blemishes. Looks quite beautiful! Internal: VG+ Toning to endpapers and a few preliminaries (per usual as a lower quality paper was used for these). The text block itself is clean and bright with slight toning along the margins. Page 55 with a gutter margin repair and a few chips and tears to the rear blanks/endpapers else NEAR FINE. No writing. I only saw a few odd spots of foxing. Former owner bookplate of Alan Pryce-Jones on front-pastedown. All in all, a high-grade collectible copy of this limited edition of 320 in its original fine morocco binding.