Madame Mohl: Her Salon and her Friends

A handsome first edition of Irish writer Kathleen O'Meara's well-known biography of Englishwoman Madame Mary Mohl, (1793-1883) who presided over one of the principal salons of 19th Century Paris. Born Mary Clarke in London in 1793 (and known as "Clarkey), she left England for France at the age of eight and became one of the principal salonnières of the era, eventually taking over from her friend Madame Récamier, and creating an intellectual center which survived through three revolutions. Her gatherings included Victor Hugo, de Tocqueville,Stendahl, Delacroix, and other luminaries. But she never lost touch with her native land and entertained Robert Browning, George Eliot Mrs. Gaskell, and others. In 1847 she married the orientalist Julius Mohl. She was a close friend of Florence Nightingale, and reputedly encouraged and influenced her to apply herself to nursing.

The granddaughter of Napoleon's physician, O'Meara (1839-1888) grew up in France and was the Paris correspondent for The Tablet. Her very readable and interesting account of life and personalities in a major Parisian salon of the time is a classic.

This book belonged to the eminent Philadelphia collector of books and fine art Joseph Harrison Brazier, and bears his bookplate.