The Aspin Collection, and the First Edition of Quinault's Play Les Rivales: An Old Mystery Resurfaces
Until Geoffrey Aspin discovered a 1655 copy of Les Rivales, readers had to be content with the second edition, published in 1661. Les Rivales was Quinault's first play and, amongst other things, Aspin's discovery showed that the 1661 version, issued when the playwright
had become vastly experienced and was at the height of his powers, was extensively revised. However, there is evidence that a different state of the first edition was known in the eighteenth century. Because of shortcomings in Aspin's 1655 copy, it is legitimate to wonder whether what he discovered
was an uncorrected first edition, the text of which was later corrected. One might establish this, one way or the other, by comparing it with the pirated 1657 Dutch edition. However, despite evidence of the existence of the Dutch edition, a copy could not be located. Now that one has been
discovered, in Stockholm, the desired comparison can at last be undertaken.
Keywords: FRÈRES PARFAICT; GUSTAF-SCHLEGEL BERGHMAN; J. GEOFFREY ASPIN; JEAN ELZEVIR; LES RIVALES; PHILIPPE QUINAULT
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 December 2016
The Irish Journal of French Studies is an annual international refereed journal published by the Association des Études Françaises et Francophones d'Irlande. Articles in English, French or Irish are welcomed on any aspect of research in the area of French and Francophone culture, society, literature and thought. All articles are freely available online.
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