LESAGE, ALAIN-RENé; TOBIAS SMOLLETT (TRANS.) - The Adventure of Gil Blas of Santillane (Two Volumes, Complete)

NY: Harper & Brothers, 1836. First American Edition. First Printing. Leather. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. Elegantly bound in half green morocco over marbled boards, spines in six compartments separated by raised bands, gilt lettering in two compartments, gilt floral tooling and bands in remainder, gilt borders on covers; marbled endpapers, t.e.g. Illustrated with 12 engravings by George Cruikshank. "L'Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane" is a picaresque novel by Alain-René Lesage published between 1715 and 1735. It is often considered to be the last masterpiece of the picaresque genre. The picaresque novel is a popular subgenre of prose fiction which might sometimes be satirical and depicts, in realistic and often humorous detail, the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. This style of novel originated in 16th-century Spain and flourished throughout Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. It continues to influence modern literature. Alain-René Lesage (1668-1747) was a French novelist and playwright best known for his comic novel "The Devil upon Two Sticks" (1707), his comedy "Turcaret" (1709), and this picaresque novel, Gil Blas. Lesage influenced many contemporary and later writers, including Charles Dickens, Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, Wilkie Collins, and Edgar Allan Poe. Tobias George Smollett (1721-1771) was a Scottish poet and author. He is best known for his picaresque novels, such as The "Adventures of Roderick Random" (1748) and "The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle" (1751).. Both volumes are in excellent condition, tight and square; former owner's name and date on ffep in an elegant hand on ffep of volume one only (July, 1875); date, in an elegant hand, on rep of volume two only (August 26 - 1875); otherwise unmarked; hinges strong, covers very slightly rubbed, else fine. A very handsome set. NEAR FINE.. B&W drawings. 12mo 7" - 7½" tall. 406; 397 pp. Near Fine with no dust jacket .

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