EMILE LÉVY (DATES UNKNOWN) LES AMOURS SECRÈTES DE NAPOLÉON III. Circa 1890. 32x24 inches, 81x61 cm. Emile Lévy, Paris. Condition B+: restored losses and restoration in margins some affecting image; restoration along vertical and horizontal folds; repaired tears and creases in margins and image. Nothing quite attracted readers like the salacious personal details of the lives of the French leaders. The insight into sophisticated imperial debauchery suggested here was sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Such "dime novels" were very popular in France, and the publishers always tried to find a new sensational crime or sexual scandal to ignite their pages. They were issued in fascicles, the first one usually free as a means of capturing the public's imagination. The rest of the installments were inexpensive enough to ensure a faithful readership.
