Le Diable Boiteux, by Alain-René Lesage, is one of the most influential satirical novels of early modern Europe. First published in the early 18th century, the work became a cornerstone of French literary realism and social critique, admired for its sharp wit, moral insight, and fearless exposure of private life behind public respectability.
This listing is for Tome II, printed in Paris in 1726, issued avec privilège du Roi. The work is written in French and presented here in its original early 18th-century format, well before later 19th-century reprints softened or modernized the text.
In Le Diable Boiteux, the devil Asmodée lifts the rooftops of Paris to reveal the hidden lives, hypocrisies, ambitions, and vices of society. What reads playfully on the surface is, in truth, a deeply subversive moral and psychological examination of power, desire, religion, marriage, and human folly. The book was controversial in its time precisely because it exposed what polite society preferred to keep hidden.
This volume is illustrated with period copperplate engravings, several of which remain crisp and visually striking, depicting scenes of urban life, interiors, and social confrontation. These illustrations are an important part of the book’s original impact and are highly sought after by collectors.
Binding & Condition
•Original full leather binding, early 18th century
•Spine with raised bands and decorative tooling
•Expected age-related wear: rubbing, scuffing, edge loss, and surface patina
•Binding remains intact and functional
•Text block complete; pages show natural toning and scattered spotting consistent with age
•Engravings present and legible
This is an authentic survivor, not a modern facsimile or later rebinding.
Why This Book Matters
•Canonical work of French literature
•Major influence on European satire and the novel form
•Cited in studies of Enlightenment thought, censorship, and moral philosophy
•Collected by institutions, scholars, and serious private collectors
Suitable for:
•Advanced collectors of early French books
•Scholars of Enlightenment literature
•Libraries and institutional collections
•Readers interested in satire, moral philosophy, and early social criticism
This volume represents true 18th-century print culture, preserved with honest wear and unmistakable historical presence.