La légende des siècles - Tome cinquième et dernier

First edition.

Half morocco binding, spine with five raised bands tooled in black with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, sprinkled edges, contemporary binding.

Some minor foxing.

Presentation copy signed by Victor Hugo to René Heymann.

Victor Hugo most likely came to know René Heymann (1866-1944) through his beloved grandson, the future painter Georges Victor-Hugo. In the immediate aftermath of the great poet's death, two years after the publication of this penultimate series of La Légende des siècles, Heymann would receive from Georges a heartbreaking letter: "Do not come today. If you only knew how sorrowful it all is - these formalities, these men of law coming to affix the seals! The physicians of death [...] I was so glad to remain a while alone with him, to see him at peace after so many hours of suffering! He looks so happy now [...] He seems to be sleeping today, and at times I think I can hear him speak. Yesterday I was alone with him; I thought he moved and turned around, but when I saw that beautiful white head I burst into tears."