BERESFORD James - Les Misères de la vie humaine ("The Miseries of human life"), Paris, J. Chaumerot, 1809

BERESFORD James - Les Misères de la vie humaine ou les Gémissements et soupirs exhalés au milieu des fêtes, des spectacles, des bals et des concerts, des amusements de la campagne, des plaisirs de la table, de la chasse, de la pêche et du jeu… ("The Miseries of human life or the Moans and exalted sights in the midst of parties, of performances, bals and concerts, of the entertainments of the countryside, of the pleasures of the table, of fishing and of game..."), Paris, J. Chaumerot, 1809 2 volumes in-eighth Vintage binding, cream and granite grey calf leather, golden imprint framing on the covers, smooth spines decorated with rosacea in squares and gilded foilage, black bands. Translation by T.-P. Bertin. The author accounts with a British black humor for the thousand inconveniences and frustrations of daily life, like "en sortant d’une société dans laquelle vous avez été mistifié (sic) par les plaisanteries d’un bel-esprit de profession, songer tout à coup à une répartie qui, si vous l’eussiez placée à propos, l’eût pulvérisé…". ("while exiting a society in which you have been mystified by the jokes of a professional wit, suddenly thinking of a retort that, if you had used it at the time, would have destroyed him...") An entire chapter is devoted to books. The work is decorated with two great frontispieces engraved in copperplate representing personified miseries and a few explanatory wood engravings. (Tear without mark on one of the figures. Beautiful copy, well-bound with large margins).