![Histoire Comique par Monseiur de Cyrano Bergerac Contenant les Estats & Empires de la Lune
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac. Lyons, chez Christophle Fourmy, 1662.
Woodcut device on title, lightly browned, contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt, 12mo. Important early science fiction work. Provenance: Camille Aboussouan (bookplate).
B-A Note: de Bergerac is, of course, best known for the mostly fictional romantic/comedic stories and plays about his life as a large-nosed duelist. However, he was an author and dramatist in his own right. Per a quite good biography of de Bergerac at kirjasto.sci.fi:
“Influenced by Gassendi’s theories and libertine philosophy, [de Bergerac] wrote stories of imaginary journeys to the Moon and Sun, and satirized views, which saw humanity and the Earth as the center of creation. He also mocked Descartes’ idea that animals are soulless machines. In his trip to the Moon the narratot takes off from the Earth in an apparatus festooned with firecrackers, and lands on the Tree of Life. The first person he meets is Elias, whom he upsets with his mocking comments about the soul. At the end he is thrown into the sky with an atheist, and lands safely in Italy. “
——————————-Ever now and then they raised such furious Shouts, occasioned undoubtedly by their Admiration’ at the sight of me, that I thought I was e’en turned a Monster. At length one of these Beast-like men, catching hold of me by the Neck, just as Wolves do when they carry away Sheep, tossed me upon his back and brought me into their Town ; where I was more amazed than before, when I knew they were Men, that I could meet with none of them but who marched upon all four.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lw7a60wqJI1qabm59o1_500.jpg)
Histoire Comique par Monseiur de Cyrano Bergerac Contenant les Estats & Empires de la Lune
Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac. Lyons, chez Christophle Fourmy, 1662.
Woodcut device on title, lightly browned, contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt, 12mo. Important early science fiction work. Provenance: Camille Aboussouan (bookplate).
B-A Note: de Bergerac is, of course, best known for the mostly fictional romantic/comedic stories and plays about his life as a large-nosed duelist. However, he was an author and dramatist in his own right. Per a quite good biography of de Bergerac at kirjasto.sci.fi:
“Influenced by Gassendi’s theories and libertine philosophy, [de Bergerac] wrote stories of imaginary journeys to the Moon and Sun, and satirized views, which saw humanity and the Earth as the center of creation. He also mocked Descartes’ idea that animals are soulless machines. In his trip to the Moon the narratot takes off from the Earth in an apparatus festooned with firecrackers, and lands on the Tree of Life. The first person he meets is Elias, whom he upsets with his mocking comments about the soul. At the end he is thrown into the sky with an atheist, and lands safely in Italy. “
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Ever now and then they raised such furious Shouts, occasioned undoubtedly by their Admiration’ at the sight of me, that I thought I was e’en turned a Monster. At length one of these Beast-like men, catching hold of me by the Neck, just as Wolves do when they carry away Sheep, tossed me upon his back and brought me into their Town ; where I was more amazed than before, when I knew they were Men, that I could meet with none of them but who marched upon all four.
