Author: Frayssinous, Denis-Antoine-Luc.
Title: Défense du christianisme ou conférences sur la religion. Seconde édition. Tome I-II.
Description: Paris, Ad. Le Clere et Cie., 1825. Complete in 2 volumes: x, 558 pp.; (4), 511, (1) pp. Contemporary marbled calf, gilt decorated spine, gilt ruled covers and edges, red and black morocco letterpieces. All edges gilt, marbled endpapers. 8vo. 21x13 cm. Mailorder only - Alleen verzending mogelijk. Book condition : very good. Nice copy of the uncommon 8vo and second edition (the first appeared the same year in 12mo) of what is considered by some the most apologetic work in France in the first half of the 19th century. The work passed through 15 editions within 18 years, and was translated into several European languages. Denis-Antoine-Luc, comte de Frayssinous (1765-1841) was a French prelate, first chaplain to the king and statesman, distinguished as an orator and as a controversial writer. The text is based on lectures on dogmatic theology, known as the conferences of Saint Sulpice, delivered in the church of Saint Sulpice, Paris, from 1803 to 1809. But the freedom of his language in 1809, when Napoleon had arrested the pope and declared the annexation of Rome to France, led to a prohibition and they were not published until 1825. His gallicanist ideas contributed to the restoration of Catholicism in France after the Revolution. Marginal waterstain in cormer of pp. 300 - end in volume 2; some foxing and browning; free endpapers and halftitle torn in volume 1; Stamp on first blanks; slight wear to binding but a nice set overall.

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