Satire of human folly and Enlightenment excess

Description

DU LAURENS (Henri-Joseph) Le compère Mathieu, ou les bigarrures de l'esprit humain. New edition, adorned with fine engravings. Malta, at the expense of the Grand Master, 1792, small 16mo, binding as-is, 179 & 156 pp., volumes I & II. Missing part of the table of contents of the second volume, some rare foxing marks. With great imagination and verve and as much excess, Du Laurens ridicules Freemasons, Jesuits, ridiculous beliefs and manias, attacking both Philosophy and the abuses of Religion. The work achieved great notoriety and was condemned as offensive to public and religious morality.