BOUHOURS (Dominique):
The Art of Criticism: Or, The Method Of making a Right Jjudgment upon Subjects of Wit and Learning. Translated from the best Edition of the French, of the famous Father Bohours [sic], by a Person of Quality. In Four Dialogues.
London: Printed for D. Brown, at the Black Swan without Temple-bar; and A. Roper at the Black Boy against St. Dunstan's church in Fleetstreet, 1705. FIRST ENGLISH TRANSLATION. 8vo, 182 x 112 mms., pp. [viii], 176; 120 [121 - 135 index, 136 errata], contemporary panelled calf; top and base of spine chipped, front joint slightly cracked, and front hinge more obviously cracked, but firm. A good copy. Dominique Bouhours (1628 - 1702) published La Manière de bien penser sur les ouvrages d'esprit in 1687, and it was first translated into English in 1705 as The Art of Criticism, probably translated by Abel Roper. The work made some noise among the literati of the 18th century with Alexader Pope borrowing material for his Essay on Criticism. The exposition is managed as a dialogue between Eudoxus and Philanthus. I am not quite sure what the translator means by "best Editon of the French," as the only one I can find is the first of 1687 - by definition the "best."

John Price Antiquarian Books
Professional sellerBook number: 10541
GBP 550.00 [Appr.: EURO 630.5 US$ 740.14 | JP¥ 109313]
Keywords: literary criticism dialogues literature