THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS OF SANTILLANE. Translated by Tobias Smollett. With an Introduction by J.B. Priestley and Illustrations by John Austen

2 volumes. First Edition for Members of the Club, Limited, Numbered and Signed by the Illustrator. Handsomely decorated with 30 full-page illustrations in colour and textural illustrations including large head-pieces by John Austen Folio, bound in the publisher's gray cloth over blue cloth covered boards, the spines lettered in gilt, in the original dustjackets pictorially illustrated on the spines and upper covers, and housed in the oiriginal designed paper covered slipcase with decorative label to the spine panel. xxvi, 329; [xi], 330-660, [2] pp. A beautiful copy in exemplary condition, pristine and near as mint with only the slightest evidence of age.

Edizione: scarce in such fine condition and first printing for members of the club, and the first with these illustrations.<br> gil blas is related to le sage's other well known play, turcaret. in both works, le sage uses such things as witty valets in the service of thieving masters, women of questionable morals, cuckolded yet happy husbands, gourmands, ridiculous poets, false savants, and dangerously ignorant doctors to make his point. each class and each occupation becomes an archetype. the work is universal while also being decidedly french.<br> it is thanks to smollett that gil blas had such an impact on the english-speaking nations. the work was referred to by authors such as jonathan swift, oliver wendell holmes, wilkie collins, and nathaniel hawthorne. it is considered a primary model to twain for 'the adventures of huckleberry finn' and charles dickens relates the story of gil blas to steerforth and traddles in david copperfield.