Aphrodite: Ancient Manners

New York: Illustrated Editions Co.. Good with no dust jacket. 1932. First Edition. First Printing. Hard Cover. Quarter bound in publisher's black cloth over blue bevelled boards, fore-edge deckle. Illustrated with full-page erotic B&W drawings by Frank J. Buttera. Pierre Louÿs (1870-1925) was a French poet and writer, most renowned for lesbian and classical themes in some of his writings. He is known as a writer who sought to "express pagan sensuality with stylistic perfection." He was made first a Chevalier and then an Officer of the Légion d'honneur for his contributions to French literature. In 1896, Louÿs published his first novel, Aphrodite—Ancient Manners, a depiction of courtesan life in Alexandria. It is considered a mixture of both literary excess and refinement, and, numbering at 350,000 copies, was the best selling work by any living French author in his day. Aphrodite was so successful that it started the career of Mercure de France. The success was due in part to a rave review by François Coppée, and no doubt also to the libertine scenes throughout the book. Louÿs had previously only published limited run pamphlets. The book caused a scandal, and reviewer Dorothy Parker noted how difficult it was to obtain in New York, and that a play by George Hazelton based on the book was likewise successful because it was denounced as obscene by the mayor. Many erotic artists have illustrated Louÿs's writings. Some of the most renowned have been Georges Barbier, Paul-Émile Bécat, Antoine Calbet, Beresford Egan, Foujita, Louis Icart, Joseph Kuhn-Régnier, Georges Lepape, Mariette Lydis, Milo Manara, André Edouard Marty, Pascal Pia, Georges Pichard, Frank J. Buttera, Rojan, Marcel Vertès, and Édouard Zier. These illustrations are by American artist Frank J. Buttera. Translated from the French by Willis L. Parker. . Small tear at head of spine, moderately shaken, unmarked; all text and illustrations clean and bright. GOOD. . B&W Drawings. 8vo 8" - 9" tall. 250 pp .