Rare first English edition of Les récréations d’Eugénie (1815), by the French feminist writer and journalist, Sophie de Renneville (1772-1822). ‘According to the French Preface, the object of this little work is to stimulate the active energies of youth, by the example of two orphans of respectable family, and born with the prospect of a good fortune, who are suddenly reduced to the necessity of exerting their talents with a view to their own support. Actuated by honour and an independent spirit, they find in their own exertions not only a resource against poverty, but the means of acquiring a reasonable competency, and the esteem and respect of society, which is benefited by their endeavours. “Youth,” observes Madame Renneville, “seldom inspires jealousy; on the contrary, almost all persons feel disposed to encourage its favourable indications, and if it be not accompanied with obstacles to its own advancement, its success is nearly certain. These obstacles are usually levity, an early propensity to gaming, a want of energy or of emulation, indocility, or culpable negligence,—sometimes errors of the understanding, and sometimes vices of the heart. Children born to independence are not necessarily more idle than others, and, if a proper path be opened to them, they will pursue it with alacrity and perseverance. It is for the latter that I chiefly write. They who sow the seeds of intellectual energy and good morals, require an adequate soil: the seed which falls upon stoney places, says the Gospel, springs up only to wither away.” In the fulfilment of this object, the English readers of the following story will find that Madame Renneville has not been altogether unsuccessful. No doubt, a portion of the moral tone exhibits French taste and predilection, and a little pardonable nationality appears in a passage or two; but, upon the whole, this small work possesses a general interest which may render it acceptable every where. The outline of the characters of both the brother and sister is well conceived and pleasing. The firm and independent spirit of Charles is amusingly contrasted with the naïve simplicity and confiding artlessness of Eugenia. The point of honour maintained with the ruffians employed to assassinate them, is certainly carried to a romantic excess; but the excess is on the right side. The calm spirit of selfreliance, which the youthful adventurer displays in all his difficulties, and his ardent affection for his sister, are also interestingly pourtrayed. In a word, it has appeared to the translator a pleasing little tale, the general tendency of which is altogether pure and unobjectionable, and which may both pleasantly and profitably engage the attention of young readers of both sexes, to whose ages it is suitable, and for whose use it has been composed’ (preface, pp. i-iv). Although predominantly a writer of children’s books, to support her poor family, De Renneville also wrote a number of political works, À bas la cabale (1814); Biographie des femmes illustres: de Rome, de la Grèce et du Bas-Empire (1825); Coutumes gauloises : ou, origines curieuses et peu connues de la plupart de nos usages (1834); and Vie de Ste Clotilde, reine de France (1809). She was also editor of the feminist periodical l’Athénée des dames, which provided women with a forum offering them alternative perspectives on society. Unfortunately, the identity of the translator of the work, ‘M. G.’, has illuded us.