Grammaire des Grammaires, or Analyse Raisonnee des Meilleurs traites sur la language Francoise,
Paris: Janet et Cotelle, Libraires, 1814. Hardcover. 2 volumes. xvi, 644p; iv, [1], 646-1298p. Contemporary red paper over boards with gilt ruled spine and green title labels. Charles-Pierre Girault-Duvivier (1765-1832) was a French grammarian. He had first served as a lawyer, but was ruined by the Revolution. He then entered the Banking profession. It was the care of the education of his daughters that brought him to deal with grammatical questions. The first edition was published in 1811 and lead to immediate success. He writes as follows in his preface: "In composing this book, I have not had the presumption to establish new principles, or want to deny my authority who were raised either by the ancient grammarians, or by Many modern philologists who have given birth and give birth every day new methods, new systems, I have confined myself in a more modest role: I have tried to bring together in one body of work all that has been said by best grammarians and by the Academy, the most delicate of the French language questions. I noted with scrupulous accuracy the sources which I have drawn, I paralleled the opinions of different authors, but I let readers the right to store this or that opinion, when the question remained indecisive or the solution was neither indicated nor by analogy given by the use most commonly adopted: "I felt compelled to adopt, he adds, the course followed by the ancient grammarians, or for large divisions of grammar and syntax, or to the names given to the various parts of speech, at different times of verbs. I have not wanted to create, I have not meant to be an author, so I had to use the terms most commonly used and most commonly used. I left ideologues and metaphysicians care to demonstrate what they are vicious or false in the old terms, and the glory of proposing new ones I followed the beaten path by the old masters, of course not to lose me and not mislead anyone with me on their trail." The reference quoted above is extracted from the French Institute on education. They also add in closing that this grammar is not useful for general education, but offers appropriate rules for those trying to solve grammatical difficulties. Some rubbing along the edges and cracks to the lower portion of the hinges though the boards are holding firm and tight. Light rubbing to the spines. A few spots in the text, otherwise a fresh clean set of an uncommon edition. Very Good. Item #003416
8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall.
Price: $150.00