Louis-Adrien DU PERRON DE CASTERA

First edition
Contemporary full speckled brown sheep bindings. Spines with raised bands decorated with 4 fleurons. Red morocco title labels, and tan morocco volume labels. Large lack at foot of volume I, same at head of volume II. Upper joint of volume I split at foot along half the binding. Lower joint of volume II split at head. One corner bumped. Traces of rubbing. Dampstain to lower margin on the first 90 pages of volume I.
Since the end of the 17th century, the type of L'Entretien had become a true literary genre, working in all fields of belles-lettres: literature, criticism, philosophy, sciences... Three characters retired to the country decide to judiciously occupy their time by forming an Academy and concluding serious discussions with gallant stories. The conversations address different subjects, History, geography, literary criticism, notably on translations and contemporary works, such as the Pour et Contre of Abbé Prévost. The adventures of Don Palmerin and Thamire thus regularly punctuate the conversations of our three characters.

First editions of these three rare novels. Not held by the BNF or French catalogs but present in English catalogs (Oxford and British Library).
Contemporary full calf binding, spine with raised bands decorated with red morocco title-label. Upper headcap with 2/3 missing. 2 cracks of 1 and 2 cm to upper joint. 2 worn corners. One border open with loss of leather.
Collection in one volume of these three exotic novels, the first of which is drawn from ancient history and set in Sicily, the other two novels taking place in India. Louis Adrien Duperron, abbé de Castéra made numerous translations from Latin, Spanish and Italian, and wrote several novels. Montcrif is a better-known 18th-century figure who wrote numerous tales and novellas. He was advisor to the Comte d'Artois. Like Montcrif, Jean-Louis Ignace de La Serre also wrote for music (Pyrame et Thisbée), as well as plays and tales.