Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
If you would like to write a summary for this topic, email phil [at] gyford [dot] com
Wikipedia
Artamène, or Cyrus the Great (French: Artamène ou le Grand Cyrus) is a novel in ten volumes by siblings Madeleine and Georges de Scudéry. At over 2,100,000 words, it is considered the longest novel ever written, with the possible exception of Henry Darger's unpublished The Story of the Vivian Girls.
[edit] External links
1893 text
Sir Walter Scott observes, in his “Life of Dryden,” that the romances of Calprenede and Scuderi, those ponderous and unmerciful folios, now consigned to oblivion, were, in their day, not only universally read and admired, but supposed to furnish the most perfect models of gallantry and heroism. Dr. Johnson read them all. “I have,” says Mrs. Chapone, “and yet I am still alive, dragged through ‘Le Grand Cyrus,’ in twelve huge volumes; ‘Cleopatra,’ in eight or ten; ‘Ibrahim,’ ‘Clelie,’ and some others, whose names, as well as all the rest of them, I have forgotten” (“Letters to Mrs. Carter”). No wonder that Pepys sat on thorns, when his wife began to recite “Le Grand Cyrus” in the coach, “and trembled at the impending tale.” — B. — [One is reminded of the 21st centuries’ bookstores full of “Romantic novels” — the modern era did not invent trashy literature. D.W.]
Annotations
-
Scudéry, Madeleine de, 1607-1701.
Artamenes, or The Grand Cyrus, an excellent new romance. Written by that famous wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostre-Dame. And now Englished by F.G. Gent.
London : printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Prince’s Arms in S. Paul’s Church-yard, and Thomas Dring at the George in Fleetstreet, 1653.
[8], 80, 77-155, [1]; 208 p. ; 2⁰.The continuation of Artamenes or The Grand Cyrus, that excellent new romance: written by that famous wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery, Governor of Nostre-Dame. And now Englished by F.G. Esq;
Variant title Third volume of Artamenes, or The Grand Cyrus, that excellent new romance: being the fifth and sixth parts
London : printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Prince’s Arms in St Paul’s Church-yard; and Thomas Dring at the George in Fleetstreet, M.DC.LIV. [1654]
[4], 289, 282-359, [1]; [6], 129, 134-206, 179, 182-188 p. ; 2The fourth volume of Artamenes, or The Grand Cyrus, that excellent new romance: being the seventh and eighth parts. Written by that famous wit of France, Monsieur de Scudery, Governor of Nostre-Dame. And now Englished by F.G. Esq;
Variant title Fifth and last volume of Artamenes, or The Grand Cyrus, that excellent new romance: being the ninth and tenth parts, which finish the whole work
London : printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Prince’s Arms in St Paul’s Church-yard; and Thomas Dring at the George in Fleet-street, M.DC.LV. [1655]
[4], 195, [1], 166, 46, [2]; [4], 186, [2], 74, 77-232, [2] p. ; 2⁰.Wing (CD-ROM, 1996), S2144 - all five volumes
Apparently re-issued as a set, with the same imprints, in June 1660, ‘Transcript of the registers of the worshipful Company of Stationers …’ 1913-14, vol ii, p 269.No copy in the PL; however SP notes EP reading the text in English. http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1667/05/21/