The Blue Jade Library
ForumThe Chapel of the Abyss
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1Randy_Hierodule
In the 1920s, Alfred Knopf publishers undertook the publication of a stable of rare and diverse curiosities in its Blue Jade Library series. Included were works of decadent literature, such as Auguste Villiers de L'Isle-Adam's Sardonic Tales, Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly's The Diaboliques (Dedalus press's recent paperback uses the same translation), Frederick Rolfe's Hadrian VII, and others unclassifiable and non-fiction: The Oriental tales of Marmaduke Pickthall (an apostate Briton-of-the-blood, he also translated the Qur'an into English), Max Havelaar, Or, the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company by Multatuli and Travels in Tartary by the French missionary, Evariste R. Huc, etc.
These volumes are attractively bound (I've not yet found one with a dust jacket) and typically include an introduction by contemporary writers and connoisseurs of the unusual, such as Carl Van Vechten and Edmund Gosse. If anyone has more information on the Blue Jade Library series and the editors and authors involved with it, I encourage you to post or to contact me (I do have a list of the works included in the BJL).
These volumes are attractively bound (I've not yet found one with a dust jacket) and typically include an introduction by contemporary writers and connoisseurs of the unusual, such as Carl Van Vechten and Edmund Gosse. If anyone has more information on the Blue Jade Library series and the editors and authors involved with it, I encourage you to post or to contact me (I do have a list of the works included in the BJL).
2larrybob
In my zine Holy Titclamps I published a piece written by Brian Bouldrey about the Blue Jade Library. The piece had actually originally been published in slightly different form in Kevin Killian and Dodie Bellamy's little magazine MIRAGE #4 PERIOD(ICAL). The article was very influential on my reading and led me to discover the decadent writers and sparked my interest in Carl Van Vechten and Villiers de l'Isle Adam. The article discusses Baron Corvo and many of the other writers who were part of the Blue Jade Library.
It's still a bit of a mystery as to who actually selected the works for the collection, but it seems that Carl Van Vechten had a lot to do with it, especially considering that James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, which is not exactly a decadent work like the rest of the library, was reprinted in a Blue Jade Edition.
It's still a bit of a mystery as to who actually selected the works for the collection, but it seems that Carl Van Vechten had a lot to do with it, especially considering that James Weldon Johnson's Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, which is not exactly a decadent work like the rest of the library, was reprinted in a Blue Jade Edition.
3Randy_Hierodule
Indeed Larrybob, your magazine, which you kindly forwarded me some years back, put me on to the Blue Jade collection - which I have begun to assemble amongst my havocs (just received Richard Garnett's collection of stories).
There seemed to be a general tend to "libraries" in the 20s, but of the Blue Jade collection stands out, for me at least, as the most ecclectic (saying three hail marys...), curious and aesthetically pleasing of the lot (right now I can only recall the farm-boy/milkmaid plainness of Boni and Liveright).
There seemed to be a general tend to "libraries" in the 20s, but of the Blue Jade collection stands out, for me at least, as the most ecclectic (saying three hail marys...), curious and aesthetically pleasing of the lot (right now I can only recall the farm-boy/milkmaid plainness of Boni and Liveright).
4readerwoman2
Ben,
I just found this 2007 thread about the Blue Jade Library. I'm seeking a list of the contents and would so appreciate it if you could let me know how I might get a list of the contents. Thank you!!
I just found this 2007 thread about the Blue Jade Library. I'm seeking a list of the contents and would so appreciate it if you could let me know how I might get a list of the contents. Thank you!!
5elenchus
And if it comes to it, I gently urge you to add a LT Series for the titles for us humble novices to this literature. I'm certainly not a collector but am generally curious about such works.
6sqdancer
>5 elenchus: I gently urge you to add a LT Series for the titles
As interesting as it might be, unless the books are exclusive to that publisher series, it is not appropriate to create a series page for them on LT. The last para of the OP seems to indicate that at least some of the books were reprinted for this publisher series.
As interesting as it might be, unless the books are exclusive to that publisher series, it is not appropriate to create a series page for them on LT. The last para of the OP seems to indicate that at least some of the books were reprinted for this publisher series.
8Crypto-Willobie
> 1 (re dust jackets)
Here's a picture of a BJL with a jacket, click to enlarge pic
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1383704469&searchurl=bi%3D0...
And here's a much less expensive one that advertises a jacket, though it's not pictured:
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1230005648&searchurl=bi%3D0...
Here's a picture of a BJL with a jacket, click to enlarge pic
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1383704469&searchurl=bi%3D0...
And here's a much less expensive one that advertises a jacket, though it's not pictured:
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1230005648&searchurl=bi%3D0...
9Soukesian
Just realised that my copy of Sardonic Tales is a Blue Jade Library edition, and very handsome it is too. Looks like it would be a nice series to collect - I'd like to know more about it.
10Randy_Hierodule
Apologies to all (and oddly, there were more than one of you) who had asked me about the titles in Knopf's Blue Jade Library for the tardiness of this reply (was soaking up sun and gin on the Florida gulf and had no use for a pc). Here is the list:
James Morier: The Adventures of Hadji Baba of Ispahan
The Memoirs of Carlo Goldoni
Theophile Gautier: A Romantic in Spain
Martin A.S. Holme: Sir Walter Raleigh
Francis de Quevedo-Villegas: Pablo de Segovia
Auguste Villiers de L'Isle-Adam: Sardonic Tales
Frederick Rolfe: Hadrian the Seventh
Multatuli (Eduard Douwes Dekker): Max Havelaar
The Letters of Abelard and Heloise
Haldane MacFall: The Wooing of Jezebel Pettyfer
Stendhal: The Life of Henri Brulard
A. Kippis: Captain Cook's Voyages
Morley Roberts: Rachel Marr (edited after all these years to include a concentrated summation of this author by Crowley: "The cobbler of trashy novelettes".)
Marmaduke Pickthall: Said the Fisherman
Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly: The Diaboliques
Richard Garnett: The Twilight of the Gods
James Weldon Johnson: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
Once again, the touchstones are dysfunctional....
James Morier: The Adventures of Hadji Baba of Ispahan
The Memoirs of Carlo Goldoni
Theophile Gautier: A Romantic in Spain
Martin A.S. Holme: Sir Walter Raleigh
Francis de Quevedo-Villegas: Pablo de Segovia
Auguste Villiers de L'Isle-Adam: Sardonic Tales
Frederick Rolfe: Hadrian the Seventh
Multatuli (Eduard Douwes Dekker): Max Havelaar
The Letters of Abelard and Heloise
Haldane MacFall: The Wooing of Jezebel Pettyfer
Stendhal: The Life of Henri Brulard
A. Kippis: Captain Cook's Voyages
Morley Roberts: Rachel Marr (edited after all these years to include a concentrated summation of this author by Crowley: "The cobbler of trashy novelettes".)
Marmaduke Pickthall: Said the Fisherman
Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly: The Diaboliques
Richard Garnett: The Twilight of the Gods
James Weldon Johnson: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
Once again, the touchstones are dysfunctional....
13bookstopshere
LOL I see thread died some time ago, but I just turned up 6 or 7 dupes and thought I'd offer them here if anyone is interested before I plunk 'em onto eBay
14Randy_Hierodule
Which titles are you unloading?
15elenchus
Titles specified in this post:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/177928#6873947
http://www.librarything.com/topic/177928#6873947
16Randy_Hierodule
Thank you, thank you very much. The Barbey: est-il avec dj?
17bookstopshere
non
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