Beschreibung:

BECKFORD, William Thomas (1760-1844). Vathek . London: J.F.Dove for Clarke, 1815. 8 (185 x 120mm). Engraved title and forntispiece. (Title and frontispiece spotted, small tear at foot of title.) Contemporary half russia (worn). Provenance : Dublin Library Society (early ink stamps on the first and last leaves of text); F.H.Fallon junr (signature); William Bonaparte Wyse (1826-1892, extensive presentation inscription, including 20 lines of blank verse on Beckford, addressed " mon cher ami":); Stphane Mallarm. AN IMPORTANT ASSOCIATION COPY. Mallarm and Wyse were friends, had originally met in Avignon and shared an interest in the work of the Flibres, who claimed descent from the ancient troubadours of Provence. Although from an Irish family on his father's side, Wyse was half French: he was a great nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, his mother having been the daughter of Lucien Bonaparte. He clearly felt at ease in France and, like his elder brother Napoleon Wyse, lived for much his life on the continent. The present work was clearly intended by Wyse as an introduction for Mallarm to the work of Beckford ("The writer of this tale, aesthetic friend! (Of haply thou knowst not) was in his time Within these millionaire adoring isles Chief among millionaires.."), the inscription is dated twice, firstly August 14th 1875 from Wyse's family home of St.John's in County Waterford, and then September 17th 1875. Mallarm appears to have been much taken with Vathek and an edition published in 1876 in Paris includes a preface by him.