ACHARD (Amédée). A season in Aix-les-Bains. Ernest Bourdin, éditeur, Paris, 1850. Large in-8°, full publisher's percaline binding, gilt and painted plate forming a frame with coat of arms in the centre, smooth spine decorated in the same manner, gilt edges (Publisher's binding). First edition, illustrated by Eugène Ginain with 17 hors-texte plates, including 4 of coloured costumes and a coloured map, with 35 vignettes in the text. A romantic work on Aix-les-Bains and Savoie, beautifully illustrated. The book includes a chapter on Chamonix: "In France we say Chamouny; in Savoie we write Chamonix. The pen may hesitate for a moment between the two. Chamouny is prettier, but Chamonix is truer. - We chose Chamonix. Amédée Achard (Marseille, 1814 - Paris, 1875) was a French journalist, novelist and playwright. He wrote this book on the occasion of a season he followed at the waters of Aix, following an injury received during the duel that pitted him against a Pier Angelo Fiorentino: the latter, of Neapolitan origin but established in Paris, was a literary critic who wrote for several newspapers under different assumed names, adapting his judgements to the sensibilities of each and the influences that were exerted on him. When his scheme was discovered, he was brought before a jury of honour made up of members of the Société des Gens de Lettres, which included Amédée Achard. Firoentino responded harshly to his detractors, and Achard, feeling defamed, challenged him to a duel (see Dictionnaire de biographie française, volume 13, col. 1381-1382). An exceptionally fresh copy. Perret, 0011 - Foras 2 - Faga 807 - Perrin, p. 1