Alfred Michiels - Les chasseurs de chamois - 1860

Alfred Michiels. The Chamois Hunters. Paris, Hachette, 1860, iii-322 pp.

A volume in octavo (190x120 mm), bound in full period boards. Wear and rubbing on the covers. Some foxing, but overall largely free of it.

Original edition

Through narratives, observations, and local traditions, Michiels describes the life of the chamois hunters, their courage, their hunting techniques, and the extreme dangers to which they expose themselves in the mountains. He presents this hunt not only as a means of subsistence but also as a test of skill, endurance, and bravery, closely tied to mountain culture.

The work gives ample space to the Alpine landscapes, the customs of mountain populations, the weapons and equipment of the hunters, as well as legends and anecdotes passed down in the valleys. Michiels also reports several accounts of famous hunts and of mountaineers who became legendary for their exploits.