The figure of Eros in a rare and unpublished French book hosted by the National Library of Sweden (1785-1814): Histoire d'une puce. Between satirical fable and erotic and libertine tale

A French book relating to flea literature has recently been discovered at the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm. This article claims to be the first presentation of the work Histoire d’une puce by Louis Marie Céleste d’Aumont, Duke of Piennes (1762-1831), with the first literary analysis of its erotic content. The second half of the story is remarkable for the presence of Swedish words in the French text. The style of the work is somewhat reminiscent of La Fontaine and Voltaire. The story takes the reader to a late 18th century setting, such as an aristocratic boudoir and women’s perfume, dances in the courtyard, an evening at the opera. The suggestion of women’s poses is reminiscent of Boucher’s paintings. This little book was probably written and published in Sweden to amuse a small circle of friends. Louis Marie Céleste d’Aumont was close to Axel and Sophie von Fersen, and the book was kept by the Piper family for some time at Löfstad slott. It is also of interest to Swedish history.

This work is now a part of Gwénaëlle Beynet Fröjd’s doctoral research project and will result in an edition in both French and Swedish.