Author: GOBINEAU, Count A. de. [Arthur].
Title: Typhaines Abbey: A tale of the twelfth century. Translated by Chas. B. Meigs.
Description: Philadelphia, Claxton Remsen &c 1869. Octavo contemporary half morocco and mottled boards (a little rubbed); 438pp. A signed presentation from Meigs to E.B. Gardette, with Gardette's handwritten copies of two letters of appreciation to Meigs. Mounted opposite the title is a photograph of Gobineau inscribed 'M. de Gobineau' which I take to be identification rather than a signature. ¶ First (only?) edition in English of Gobineau's 1867 novel. It seems unlikely Gobineau will ever regain whatever regard he was given by rational persons; he will forever be the father of Nazi Aryan race theories. That's if he ever did have the regard of rational persons. Meigs is certainly suspect. Being Emeritus Profesor at Jefferson College doesn't save him from gushing like a star struck teen in his prefatory remarks addressed to Gobineau. All the FACTS of human history had been "a myth and mystery to my understanding" until the light of Gobineau's scholarship shone from his essay on the inequality of the human races. And so we go through every one of Gobineau's books until we learn that two of Gobineau's characters in this book share Meigs' love equally with his great-grandchildren. The recipient of this copy, Emile Gardette, something of a heavyweight in Philadelphia academic and literary circles, is hardly less thrilled by this novel and archly suggests that he may be able to help with widening its circulation. He can't have been as influential as he believed.

Keywords: literature fiction c19th France race association racism