Quarto (loose sleeves): 26 x 20 cms. In slightly gruuby slipcase. Small tear to the cover (at the bottom), but a very clean copy, with few marks and spots. 15 fabulous colour plates by the renowned Paul-Emile Bécat + 17 black and white plates. The edition runs to just 699 copies and this is number 197/250 which includes a suite of black and white plates PLUS two "refused" plates. The text by Diderot is well known. Suzanne Simonin is an intelligent and sensitive sixteen-year-old French girl who is forced against her will into a Catholic convent by her parents. Suzanne’s parents initially inform her that she is being sent to the convent for financial reasons, stating it is cheaper for her to become a nun rather than paying a dowry in marriage. At the convent, Suzanne suffers humiliation, harassment and violence because she refuses to make the vows of the religious community. At the Sainte-Eutrope convent, the Mother Superior is revealed to be a lesbian and she grows affectionate towards Suzanne. The Mother Superior attempts to seduce Suzanne, but her innocence and chaste eventually drives the Mother Superior into insanity, leading to her death. That sets the scene for some luscious images... This is a book to feast the eyes on...