L'imitation de jesus christ / compositions par JP laurens grav

By De Marillac Michel ( Traduction )

In French. 1878 first edition thus, A. Quantin (Paris), 5 3/4 x 8 3/8 inches tall x 2 inches thick hardbound, marbled paper-covered boards over green spine, five raised bands and gilt ruling and decorations and lettering to spine, marbled endpapers, all pages ruled in red, illustrated throughout with 10 striking drawings by Jean-Paul Laurens (1838-1921) engraved by Leopold Flameng (1831-1911) printed on embossed heavy stock and preceded by a yellow tissue guard on which is printed a relevant quotation from the text of the Imitation, xix, 406 pp. plus table of contents. Mild rubbing and edgewear to covers, and sun-fading to spine. Covers of wraps, in which the book was likely issued for the binder, are bound in with the front cover preceding the half title page and rear cover following the last blank red-ruled endpaper, and these covers are not surprisingly browned, stained and chipped, with a small pencil notation to the front cover. Very slight staining to the fore edge of the half title page. Mild to moderate age toning or foxing to a couple of the engraved plates. Otherwise, a very good copy - clean, bright and unmarked - in a handsome binding which gives a splendid shelf appearance. A rare edition which employs the respected 1621 translation of the Imitation of Christ by Michel de Marillac (1560-1632). OCLC (Nos. 776857779 and 561559338) locates only one copy at institutions worldwide - at The British Library, St. Pancras, in London. 

The Imitation of Christ was first written in Latin by Catholic monk Thomas a Kempis (circa 1380-1471), as four separate books completed between 1420 and 1427, at Mount Saint Agnes monastery, in the town of Windesheim, located in what is now the Netherlands. He wrote these works for the instruction of novices of his Augustinian monastic order, followers of Geert Groote's Brethren of the Common Life. But the writings quickly became popular among all the literate faithful. There is probably no other book apart from the Bible which has been printed in so many editions and translations.

This French translation of the Imitation was made by French political and religious figure Michel de Marillac, who went on to produce translations of the Psalms and Canticles four years later, in 1625. This followed an extensive career in law and government service by Marillac, who was a Scion of an old noble family from the Auvergne with a long history of service to the French monarchy. Marillac was an emblematic figure of the so-called Devot movement that emerged after the religious wars, and his career exemplified the myriad links between religion and politics under Louis XIII which propelled him toward higher office in royal service, especially once Marie de Medicis recovered her political influence during the early 1620s. She and Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) enabled Marillac to serve as finance minister from August 1624 until June 1626, when he moved sideways to the more congenial post of keeper of the seals, whose responsibilities far transcended judicial affairs.