Odazir, ou le Jeune Surien, Roman Philosophique Composé de Après les Mémoires d'un Turc. Par M. * * * by [FRENCH LITERATURE]. [Carra, Jean-Louis] - 1772

La Haye: (Société Typographique de Bouillon), 1772, 1772. First edition. OCLC records nine copies: four in the US (UCLA, Harvard, Princeton and Vanderbilt) and five in European libraries. Edges a little rubbed; small paper library shelf label at the foot of the spine; faint remains of a bookplate or label on the front paste-down; very good copy, in a fine contemporary binding.. 12mo, contemporary cat's paw calf, marbled paper endpapers, brown leather spine label, gilt decorations and lettering. A philosophical novel, written in the tradition of Persian letters and the Oriental tale, by journalist and revolutionary Jean-Louis Carra (1742-93) who, among other literary activities, contributed to the Encyclopedia of Yverdon. Odazir is a Syrian lord who undertakes a long journey in Europe in search of the truth about contemporary society. The tale is prefaced by a seven-page dedication to the "Grand Counsel in Aleppo: One will be surprised, perhaps, among the polite Nations of Europe, that a Philosopher, such as I announce myself, was from Syria," and it is followed by a nine-page "Le Vrai Philosophie, Poeme" and a philosophical article from the Encyclopedia of Yverdon on the "Alliances de la Nature." Jean-Louis Carra was an early victim of the Reign of Terror. His tale of the Syrian philosopher was surprisingly translated into Russian and published in Moscow in 1793.