1780 Scarce French Book - The Adventures of Mr. Robert Chevalier De Beauchêne Captain of Flibustiers - Pirates in New France (Canada).

---

This beautiful book has been sold...

Search for other similar books from our bookseller friends!

 

---

(description) 

Author : LE SAGE, (Alain-René).
Title : Les Aventures De Monsieur Robert Chevalier, Dit De Beauchêne, Capitaine De Flibustiers dans la Nouvelle-France.
Language : Text in French.
Publisher : Maestricht: Jean-Edme Dufour & Phil. Roux, 1780. Complete 2 Volumes in 1.
Size : 7 " X 4 ".
Pages : xii, 244; viii, 228 pages.
Binding : Very good original full calf leather binding (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed, corners worn - as shown)  under a removable protective mylar cover.
Content : Very good content (bright and tight, some foxing and staining, note of a previous owner on half-title page - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with the beautiful 6 engraved plates.

Estimate: (USD 700- USD 1200)

The book : Scarce 18th century French edition of Le Sage's Adventures of Mr. Robert Chevalier De Beauchêne Captain of Flibustiers - (Pirates) in New France.  Purporting to be the authentic memoirs of the soldier, adventurer and privateer Beauchêne, after the manuscript communicated by his widow to Lesage, but probably greatly amplified and modified by the latter. Although the authenticity of the memoirs has been disputed, there is no doubt as to the real historical existence of the swashbuckling hero, who was born near Montreal. "The Chevalier de Beauchêne, Indian Scout and pirate, ranged over large portions of North America. At one point he set out for Detroit with Cadillac, who, when he discovered that Beachêne was carrying too much eau-de-vie, returned the Chevalier to Montreal and prison." (Lande) The publisher's preface states that Beauchêne, having amassed a small fortune in privateering, went to France where he squandered it all and was killed in a brawl in Tours. His death certificate, dated Dec. 11, 1731, has in fact been found in the parish registers of that city. 

The author: Alain-René Lesage (6 May 1668 – 17 November 1747; older spelling Le Sage) was a French novelist and playwright. Lesage is best known for his comic novel The Devil upon Two Sticks (1707, Le Diable boiteux), his comedy Turcaret (1709), and his picaresque novel Gil Blas (1715–1735).