La bête humaine & Fort comme la mort. In La Vie Populaire : années 1888, 1889, 1890 complètes

First edition of this bi-weekly illustrated review publishing in serial form either unpublished texts or previously published texts by the most illustrious authors of this end of century.
Half cherry red shagreen bindings, spine with five raised bands decorated with blind fillets showing slight traces of rubbing, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, illustrated front covers preserved, contemporary bindings.
Rich literary contributions including those of G. de Maupassant with notably the unpublished "Fort comme la mort" and also "Pierre et Jean" and "Notre coeur", E. Zola with the unpublished "La bête humaine" and also "Le voeu d'une morte" "Le rêve", "La terre" and "Une page d'amour", P. Loti with an unpublished novel "Le roman d'un enfant", J. Clarétie with an unpublished novel "Puy Joli", J. Richepin with an unpublished novel "Le cadet" and "Césarine", 2 unpublished works by H. Malot, but also A. Daudet, C. Monselet, E. Renan, L. Dierx, E. Goudeau, J. Barbey d'Aurevilly, O. Mirbeau with notably "L'abbé Jules", M. Beaubourg, C. Mendès, P. Arène, T. de Banville, F. Mistral, J. Bois, G. Courteline, J. Barbey d'Aurevilly, Villiers de l'Isle Adam, S. Masoch, A. Scholl, J. Gautier...
Illustrated covers with portraits of the principal contributors.
A marginal restoration at foot of page 213 of the first volume, a small lack at foot touching text on page 383 of the second, some occasional light foxing.
Handsome and rare set.