{"product_id":"the-sylph-claude-prosper-jolyot-de-crzsbillon-9781955392662","title":"The Sylph","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Sylph, \u003c\/em\u003eby Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon (\u003cem\u003efils\u003c\/em\u003e) is an English translation of a little gem of a short story and libertine work first published in 1730, from the French (\u003cem\u003eLe Sylphe, ou Songe de Madame de R*** écrit par elle-même à Madame de S***\u003c\/em\u003e). Sylphs or Sylphids are, as most people do not know, elemental aery creatures, or spirits, not unlike faeries or nymphs even. Unlike nymphs, they come in both sexes, but in this genre-breaking short story they come in just one (\u003cem\u003evir\u003c\/em\u003e). English-language readers will have encountered their very first sylph perhaps in Alexander Popeʼs \u003cem\u003eThe Rape of the Lock, \u003c\/em\u003e written around the same time and published unfortunately on the wrong side of the Channel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Sylph in this story by Crébillon \u003cem\u003efils\u003c\/em\u003e (\"fils\" to distinguish him from his father) is a tad more libertine than that of the \u003cem\u003eLock\u003c\/em\u003e (assuming the \u003cem\u003eLock\u003c\/em\u003e qualifies, which it doesnʼt). Short, as all short stories are, it takes place entirely in the bedroom of the young, charming, and beautiful Countess, Madame de R***, as she prepares to go to sleep for the night and is visited by a... male Sylph, or so it seems. Rather like \u003cem\u003eThe School of Women\u003c\/em\u003e, which also takes place almost entirely in a bedroom, or bedrooms, and which is also of the libertine genre - \u003cem\u003eThe Sylph\u003c\/em\u003e is about as tame and aery as libertine stories get. Even more so than the \u003cem\u003eEcclesiastical Laurels\u003c\/em\u003e. But light and entertaining, it is also quite funny at times. The plot: a Sylph visits the Countess, who is not sure whether she is awake or dreaming, and seduces her in so many words.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"...I had retired to my room; the night was warm. I went to bed in a modest fashion, for someone who believes she is alone, but would not have done so if I had thought someone was watching me.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1955392668\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781955392662\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Sunny Lou Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/07\/2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 30\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.09lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.07d","brand":"Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47305660399871,"sku":"9781955392662","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_57c9521d-1f9e-4740-bfcb-466c519c3ebf.jpg?v=1758831489","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-sylph-claude-prosper-jolyot-de-crzsbillon-9781955392662","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}