REF. 0065

Le Journal d’une femme de chambre.

Octave Mirbeau

Publisher: Charpentier
Place: Paris
Date: 1900
Format: In-8 (185 x 127 mm)
Binding: Bound
Collation: (6) ff., 519 pp., (3) ff.
Language: French
Century: 19th century
Distinctive features: From the library of Aurélien Scholl

Condition report

€1 200

The piece is held for you for 7 days, with no immediate payment — choose the “Reservation” method at the payment step.

The piece is held for you for 7 days, with no immediate payment — choose the “Reservation” method at the payment step.

The piece is held for you for 7 days, with no immediate payment — choose the “Reservation” method at the payment step.

MIRBEAU Octave. Le Journal d'une femme de chambre.
Paris, Bibliothèque Charpentier, 1900.

In-8 (185 x 127 mm): [6] ff., 519 pp., [3] ff. First cover preserved. Half chocolate-brown morocco, spine with raised bands, gilt author, title, and date, gilt top edge.

First edition.
A fine Association copy, with the author’s inscription to Aurélien Scholl, novelist and journalist (1833–1902), known for his biting critiques, which earned him numerous duels, as well as for his caustic humor.

Also included is an ALS by Aurélien Scholl to Octave Mirbeau, in which Scholl apologizes for his less-than-flattering review of the novel:
"24 juin, mon cher confrère, vous avez raison me gronder. Où Diable avais-je la tête quand j'ai laissé couler cette formule banale "sans méchanceté et sans fâcher personne ?" j'ai cédé au désir D'épargner les blessés. J'aurais dû [...] plus justice à votre livre en le qualifiant de cruel. Vous faites parler la conscience de vos personnages afin de souligner le mot de Beaumarchais : "il y a de ces choses qu'on peut se dire à soi-même".
En tout cas, vous écrivez une belle et forte langue, et votre ouvrage est d'un haut intérêt.
Recevez l'assurance de ma sincère sympathie accompagnée d'une légitime admiration."

Mirbeau, one of the first Goncourt Academicians (1900–1917), was a protégé of Gambetta and a close associate of François Deloncle. Destined for a political and diplomatic career, he chose the path of anarchism, traveling across France and engaging in physical confrontations when silenced. He became known as a fervent polemicist and a fierce humorist. Le Journal d'une femme de chambre was no exception to his biting critiques (Mollier). "This book by Mirbeau is a harsh indictment of the ills of modern society. It blends satire of family mores with a rather murky sensuality. At times, the satire fades, and the 'journal' ultimately transforms into a mere scandalous chronicle." (Laffont-Bompiani).

Foxing on the preserved cover and yellowed paper, as is common.
Mollier, Jean-François Nivet et Pierre Michel : Octave Mirbeau, l'imprécateur au coeur fidèle, 1990. Dans : 1848. Révolutions et mutations au XIXe siècle, n°8, 1992, 143-145 ; Laffont-Bompiani, Dictionnaire des Oeuvres, III, 854.