Henry de Montherlant / Yves Brayer - ‎Les Bestiaires - 1956

Lovely illustrated edition of the novel by Henry de Montherlant published in 1926, adorned with a frontispiece and 30 compositions by Yves Brayer (1907-1990) engraved on wood in colour, in the text.

Beautiful account of the Provence and Camargue regions in which the horses and bulls are the stars. The original and expressive by Yves Brayer give breadth to this most lively presentation.

Printing of 215 copies then some artist’s copies, one of the artist’s copies, on Arches vellum.

Loose leaf, cover with flaps, folder with red sheepskin spine, bordered slipcase - Very fresh interior. Light damage: sunned spine and the spine of the folder is rubbed and faded. The slipcase is sound. Good copy.

This is Montherlant's second novel and the second part of the cycle which he entitled "La Jeunesse d'Alban de Bricoule", the first part of which is Le Songe (1922) and the third, Les Garçons (1969)."

"Alban de Bricoule, a 16 year old teenager, becomes passionate about bulls during his stay in Spain. The invitation of the Duke of La Cuesta, a great bull breeder, allows Alban to get to know his daughter, Soledad. He quickly falls under her spell. The young girl asks him to fight a bull called the Evil Angel for her sake; but after succeeding in this challenge, he disdainfully rejects her.”

Henry de Montherlant / Yves Brayer
‎Les Bestiaires.
Paris, Imprimatur, Coulouma, 1956
4to (35 x 26.5 cm); 193 pp.