Author: [DU BOIS (Edward)]:
Title: The Fairy of Misfortune; Or, The Loves of Octar and Zulima. An Eastern Tale. Translated from the French by The Author of A Piece of Family Biography. The Original of the above Work is supposed to be in the Sanscrit in the Library of the Great Mogul.
Description: London, Printed for J. Bell..., 1799. FIRST EDITION. 12mo, 170 x 99 mms., pp. [iv], 193 [194 - 196 adverts], recent half calf, marbled boards, gilt spine, green morocco; some water-staining of title-page and other leaves, but a good copy. The work is almost certainly not a translation, but a narrative by Du Bois. The Critical Review for 1799 noticed the work briefly: "The loves and adventures of Octar and Zulima form an agreeable and interesting narrative, in which are interspersed very important and useful lessons of life. After the fairy of misfortune has conducted her illustrious pupils through a series of impressive vicissitudes, they receive the splendid reward of virtuous resignation and unshaken integrity. The tale is said to have been translated at the request of a Lady; and it is much to the honour of the young knight, that the ability is not exceeded by the gallantry of his attempt. We have, in particular, remarked the spirit and felicity with which the shrewd epigrammatic turns of the original are translated into the English idiom." The London Review was not quite so pleased: "We have been indebted to the translator for too much amusement to feel disposed to express unnecessary fastidiousness, but, as he tells us, the original contains many passages and descriptions grossly indecent and licentious, we must be permitted to regret, that he has not gone a little further, in refining and expunging them." In other words, NO PLATFORM FOR INDECENCY AND LICENTIOUSNESS. I am happy to offer a bottle of champagne (non-vintage) to the purchaser who finds those passages. ESTC T129713 locates copies in BL and Bodleian in these islands; and McMaster, NYPL, New York, Society Library, California Berkeley, Chicago, North Carolina, Pennsylvania Kislak Center; Auckland Public Librry.

Keywords: fiction arabic literature


See more books from our catalog: Fiction