Stendhal - Rome Naples et Florence - 1826

Original Edition - Stendhal's Grand Tour in Italy's Capitals
According to Cluzot, this edition is an 'entirely new work, completely rewritten by Stendhal and augmented with a volume.' The second edition was actually just a reissue, after a few weeks, of the original edition with a title page bearing the publisher Colburn's address and the mention 'second edition'.
Rome, Naples, and Florence in the third edition of 1826 is not a simple reprint but a true redefinition of the work. Stendhal revisits the text from 1817 and transforms it into something radically new, expanding its narrative, political, and aesthetic scope. The journey becomes a critical tool: observing Italy serves to expose Europe, its taste, its hypocrisies, and its inability to understand artistic modernity. This edition marks one of the highest moments of Stendhal's essayistic-narrative writing.
Market value
For sale online at $4,176.88.
In the antique market, the partially original third edition of 1826 of Rome, Naples et Florence, complete in two volumes and in contemporary binding, generally sells for between 2,900 and 3,700 euros, with fluctuations depending on the condition of the pages, the integrity of the spines, and the presence of documented historical provenance, such as copies originating from 19th-century literary cabinets.

Physical description and condition
Two volumes. Contemporary binding with leather spines, titles and initials A. A. stamped in gold; signs of wear. Printer's mark on the frontispieces, ex libris, and ownership stamp. Some stains, uniform physiological browning. In ancient books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. Pp. (2); 4nn, 304; (2). (2); 4nn; 348; (2).

Full title and author
Rome, Naples, and Florence.
Paris, Delaunay, 1826.
Mr. de Stendhal

Context and Significance
According to Cluzot, this edition is an 'entirely new work, completely rewritten by Stendhal and expanded with a volume.' The second edition was actually just a reissue, after a few weeks, of the original edition with a title page bearing the publisher Colburn's address and the mention 'second edition.' The judgment perfectly captures the nature of the book: Stendhal does not merely revise the text but rewrites it, enriching it with new anecdotes or developing those only hinted at in the first edition, such as the episodes about Catalani and Gina. This reworking is complemented by the famous Vita di Rossini, which, despite its title, is not a biography in the traditional sense but a polemical and profoundly original work. Through Rossini, Stendhal conducts a critical analysis of post-Napoleonic Italy and the Parisian audience, accused of failing to understand the modernity of the composer. Rossini's music, described as 'eminent romanticism,' thus becomes the starting point for a broader reflection on art, taste, and contemporary society.

Biography of the Author
Stendhal, pseudonym of Henri Beyle, was born in Grenoble in 1783 and died in Paris in 1842. A writer, critic, and diplomat, he was one of the central figures of 19th-century European literature. Deeply connected to Italy, which he considered a spiritual homeland, he developed a writing style based on psychological analysis, irony, and ruthless observation of social and political mechanisms. Rome, Naples, and Florence occupy an essential place in his work, serving as a blend of travel diary, political essay, and aesthetic reflection.

Printing history and circulation
The first edition appeared in 1817, but this third original edition is actually an entirely new work, completely rewritten by Stendhal and enriched with a supplementary volume (see Clouzot).
The second edition was merely a simple reissue for sale, after a few weeks, of the original edition, with a title page from Relais bearing the publisher Colburn's address and the indication 'second edition.' This 'third edition' therefore constitutes the true second original edition, much more complete than the first.
This edition was decisive in establishing the work in its most ambitious and complex form. Published by Simon César Delaunay, this edition testifies to the ongoing process of rewriting that Stendhal subjected his texts to, adapting them to the evolution of his thought. The circulation was significant among French liberal and intellectual circles, contributing to the work's critical success throughout the 19th century.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Cluzot, Stendhal, Rome, Naples, and Florence, bibliographic notice.
BnF, General Catalogue, Stendhal.
WorldCat, 19th-century editions of Rome, Naples, and Florence.
Del Litto, Victor, Stendhal, and Italy.