BARRAS (Paul) (1755–1829), Memoirs - Lot 30

BARRAS (Paul) (1755–1829), Memoirs Published with a general introduction, prefaces, and appendices by George Duruy. Paris, Librairie Hachette et Cie, 1895. Complete set in 4 large 8vo volumes, elegantly bound in black half-shagreen with corner pieces, smooth spines with gold lettering, and marbled paper covers. Edition illustrated with portraits, facsimiles, and maps. A major figure of the French Revolution and a member of the Directory, Paul Barras was one of the central figures in the fall of Robespierre, the Directory government, and the rise of Bonaparte. These memoirs, published posthumously, constitute a primary historical source on the final years of the Ancien Régime, the Revolution, the Directory, and the early years of the Consulate. The volume brings together personal recollections, correspondence, political portraits, and accounts of the major events of the Revolution. It remains today an indispensable reference for the study of this period. A fine copy in a neat library binding. The interior is fresh, the paper has a uniform patina, and the volume is complete and in good condition.