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Published in Paris in 1953 by Maurice Girodias at the legendary Olympia Press, this scarce first edition of Passions\' Evil represents an iconic milestone of post-war expatriate literary culture. Attributed to nineteenth-century French Romantic author Alfred de Musset and originally issued in 1833 as Gamiani, ou Deux nuits d\'excès, this English translation was rendered by American writer Austryn Wainhouse under his well-known pseudonym Audiart. Produced during the early, foundational era of the press at 13 rue Jacob, the volume was printed strictly for private subscribers in a strictly limited run of 750 copies, of which this hand-numbered example is designated copy number 354. Bound in the distinctive original publisher blue wrappers with typographical star borders, it stands as Kearney 23 in the authoritative Olympia Press bibliography.
Preserved in clean, collectible condition, the volume retains crisp, bright typography throughout its 120 pages of deckle-edged text paper. The original paper covers display delicate, honest age toning along the spine panel and outer perimeter, with sound hinges and unmarred interior leaves. Acquired directly from the personal library of a late Washington, D.C.-area National Institutes of Health anthropologist and dedicated bibliophile, this volume offers exceptional provenance for institutions and private collectors of underground literary history, French romanticism, and banned twentieth-century press publications.
This volume measures approximately 7.25 inches in height, 5.25 inches in width, and 0.75 inches in depth, with an overall weight of approximately 0.45 pounds.
