✨1664 Memoirs of Francois De La Rochefoucauld, Published in Cologne, Written in French. **François de La Rochefoucauld, 2nd Duke of La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac was an accomplished French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs, the only two works of his dense literary œuvre published. His Maximes portrays the callous nature of human conduct, with a cynical attitude towards putative virtue and avowals of affection, friendship, love, and loyalty. Leonard Tancock regards Maximes as “one of the most deeply felt, most intensely lived texts in French literature”, with his “experience, his likes and dislikes, sufferings and petty spites ... crystallized into absolute truths.” Born in Paris in 1613, at a time when the royal court was vacillating between aiding the nobility and threatening it, he was considered an exemplar of the accomplished seventeenth-century nobleman. Until 1650, he bore the title of Prince de Marcillac. His great-grandfather François III, count de La Rochefoucauld, was killed in the St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre, being a Huguenot. This is a very rare book, because there were not many books published on Francois De La Rochefoucauld… This is also a smaller, full leather bound book with gorgeous detailing… which indicates it was owned by someone with wealth. It is only 5” tall! Overall it is in great condition for its age and size… the binding is nice and tight and the hinges are good! This is a true treasure to own.
