Henri-Joseph Dulaurens - Le compère Mathieu ou Les bigarrures de l'esprit humain - 1772

DULAURENS (Abbé Henri Joseph)

The accomplice Mathieu or The variegations of the human mind.

London, at the expense of the Company, 1772.

Three small octavo volumes (16.5 x 10 cm), marbled calfskin (period binding), smooth gilt-ornamented spine, red edges, ex-libris of Auguste Dufour, [6]-253-[3]; 270-[2]; 268-[2] pages (complete). Second front free endpaper of volume I pasted in, worn corners and headcaps, occasional foxing. Overall condition still fair.

This novel was condemned in 1851 as outraging public and religious morals. Its destruction was ordered in 1852.
Famous anti-religious satire, to be classified according to Mornet among works 'that demonstrate that Christianity is merely a human invention, absurd and malevolent'.
Du Laurens influenced many free thinkers of the late 18th century, including Diderot, who drew upon this work for the writing of Jacques the Fatalist. He was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment on August 30, 1767, a few months after the publication of the book. He died about thirty years later.

Good specimen.