La Silvanire

2 works in 1 quarto volume of (1) blank leaf, (27) leaves, 178 pp. (misnumbered 186), (1) blank leaf, (2) leaves, 96 pp. Speckled calf, spine with raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons, speckled edges. Contemporary binding.

199 x 144 mm.

Mairet, Jean de. La Silvanire or The Living Dead Woman by Mr. Mairet Pastoral Tragicomedy. Dedicated to Madame the Duchess of Montmorency.Paris, François Targa, with Royal privilege, 1631.

Followed by: Mairet, Jean de. Other lyrical works by Sieur Mairet.Paris, François Targa, with Royal privilege, 1631.

First Editions. Rare first edition of La Silvanire unknown to Tchemerzine who cites only the 1632 edition.

At least ten years before Chapelain and D’Aubignac, Mairet introduced for the first time the rule of the three unities, which would revolutionize the theater.Tchemerzine, IV, 325-326; La Chèvre, II, 352; De Backer, Authors of the 17th Century, 862.

La Silvanire, whose subject was also provided by L’Astrée, was composed at the request of Cardinal de La Valette. This play is preceded by a long poetic preface related to the three unities, a rule applied here for the first time. It is decorated with a frontispiece title featuring a portrait of Mairet and 5 beautiful engravings by Michel Lasne.

The second work is adorned with a fine portrait of the Duke of Montmorency by Michel Lasne.

“La Silvanire, or The Living Dead Woman, performed to great success in 1630 at the Château de Chantilly and printed in Paris in 1631, was the manifesto of a new school that aimed to bring, without servile narrowness, French drama to classical regularity. This reform attempt preceded by at least ten years the demands of Chapelain and Abbé d’Aubignac regarding unity of place and time. In the preface, Mairet cautiously outlines the reforms that, in his opinion, should be introduced into the composition of plays, following the example of the Greeks and the Romans. La Silvanire, which takes place “between two suns, so that, beginning in the morning, it ends with another,” achieved its aim, and the poet was praised for “opening the way to regular works.” This play, in which preciosity is still present, nonetheless, at times, heralds the firm tone of Pierre Corneille. It gave rise, among other imitations, to Gombauld’s Amarante and the first plays of Rotrou” (Dictionary of Literary Works).

Jean de Mairet (1604-1686), a successful playwright, was born in Besançon and died in that city. His collection of lyrical works ends with stanzas dedicated to the city of Dôle.

No complete copy of these rare original literary works has appeared on the French or international public market in the past thirty years.