The Memoirs of the Duke of Saint-Simon on the Reign of Louis XIV and the Regency by Louis De Rouvroy, Duke De Saint Simon - 1900

London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co., 1900 This is a 3 volume set: vol. I, xxiv + 386pp.; vol. II, x + 381pp.; vol. III, xii + 425 pp. The Duke de Saint-Simon's popularity with leading members of Louis XIV's court although not with the King himself, plus his "meddling disposition," make his memoirs an interesting read. The great king, says the translator, Bayle St. John, is presented "to us in undress, without his crown, even without his wig, the plain unsophisticated thing, the lean and slippered pantaloon. . . ." Saint-Simon "was always mean; and never meaner than in his young days, when he had beautiful mistresses, some of whom were not so contemptible as others." This edition is bound in gilded red cloth with the top edge gilded as well, and with green endpapers. There is very slight fraying at the corners, and the heads and tails show shelf wear and a small tear in the head of volume 3. Otherwise this is an attractive set, solidly bound and clean, with but slight tanning of the leaves.. Sixth Edition. Original Cloth. Very Good +. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" Tall; 15 x 22.