Bardelys the Magnificent

Publication: London, Stanley Paul & Co., c. 1911 Formatting: 8vo, pp. 254. Condition Report: Good. The book is bound in the publisher's original blue cloth with a gilt shield device to the front board. The binding remains reasonably secure, though the text block appears slightly cocked. The most significant flaw justifying this grade is the heavy sunning to the spine, which has faded the original blue cloth to a brownish-tan, though the gilt lettering remains entirely legible. The boards show typical shelf-wear and rubbing for their age, including a notable bump and corresponding crease to the top rear corner. The page block is rough-trimmed at the fore and lower edges, displaying expected age-toning and mild foxing, but the interior pages remain clean and perfectly suitable for reading. A solid, albeit well-worn, average reading copy. Catalogue Note: An early reprint edition of Rafael Sabatiniâs swashbuckling historical romance, originally issued by Eveleigh Nash in 1906. This particular undated printing can be identified as an early reissue based on the title page's publisher address and the listing of Sabatiniâs novel, The Lion's Skin, without any reference to his subsequent works. This copy is presented in the original blue cloth binding, distinguished by a striking gilt shield bearing three fleurs-de-lis on the front board. Unillustrated and lacking a dust jacket, this edition stands as a charming example of early 20th-century historical adventure fiction. Due to the high print runs of Sabatini's popular works during this era, standard reading copies like this one remain quite common and accessible on the secondary market. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Languedoc rebellion in 1632,ÂBardelys the Magnificent follows the thrilling exploits of Marcel de St. Pol, the Marquis of Bardelys. A wealthy and notorious courtier of King Louis XIII, Bardelys wagers his entire estate that he can win the heart of the beautiful, yet purportedly unapproachable, Roxalanne de Lavedan. What begins as a cynical gamble soon plunges the Marquis into a dangerous web of political intrigue, mistaken identity, and high treason. Sabatiniâs masterful storytelling delivers a quintessential swashbuckling adventure, brimming with daring escapes, fierce duels, and a genuine romance that ultimately redeems its roguish hero.…