Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly said of Léon Bloy:
"He is a fiery spirit, composed of faith and enthusiasm, this unknown Léon Bloy, who cannot remain so for long [...] For my part, among the Catholic writers of the present hour, I know no one of such ardor, of such violence of love, of such fanaticism for the truth."
A century later, an improbable encounter: that of an emperor, Napoleon, and a cursed writer, Léon Bloy.
"And yet, Napoleon provided Léon Bloy with the subject of one of his great books, one of the strangest and most beautiful ever written about the inexhaustible man. In the oceanic imperial bibliography, The Soul of Napoleon figures among the handful of fascinating curiosities, the cluster of extraordinary texts that the little Corsican general inspired in great writers." Laurent Joffrin.
Beautiful First Edition With a moving and precious intimate dedication to Marie Artru
Marie Termier or Artru (married to Henri Artru) is the daughter of the eminent geologist, member of the Institut
Pierre Termier
and great friend of Léon Bloy (their correspondence has been published)
Marie Artru is the mother of Louis Artru, a naval officer, resistance fighter, and hero of Free France
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Mercure de France Publishing
1912
First Edition with Autograph Inscription by the Author
Size 12*18.5cm, 255p
press-numbered, number 985 of the print run
(print run of 1000 copies, cf. bibliography-iconography of Léon Bloy by Bollery)
Unillustrated
Beautiful Half-Chagrin Corner Binding
Spine with raised bands and small gilt ornaments
Wrappers preserved
Condition
Beautiful work with slight signs of wear
- Spine slightly sunned
- slight rubbing at the bottom of the spine
- Note: covers slightly sunned, with discoloration in places
