New edition, illustrated with two frontispieces and 12 figures before letters, unsigned. A title vignette repeated on both volumes. Title pages in red and black.
Contemporary full glazed blonde calf bindings. Spines with raised bands decorated with small repeated fleurons in compartments. Red morocco title and volume labels. Decorative gilt board-edges and on leading edges. Edges gilt. The figures are slightly shorter at the outer margin. Joints partially restored. Fine copy, in good binding.
Son of the illustrious actor Montfleury, and like him attached to the Hôtel de Bourgogne, his first plays were farces around 1660, then producing about one play per year, he evolved toward satire and social criticism. He was a rival of Molière, who had mocked his father in L'Impromptu de Versailles (to which he responded with L'Impromptu de l'Hôtel de Condé), but while Molière drew his manner from Italian theater, Montfleury freely drew inspiration from Spanish theater; his comic theater is not a comedy of characters but a satire of contemporary society.
Engraved armorial bookplate of the 19th century Ph. L. de Bordes de Fortage.
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