L'Imitation de Jesus-Christ, Traduction Nouvelle avec une Pratique Chrétienne à la fin de chaque Chapitre 

by Thomas à Kempis; R. P. de Gonnelieu (Traduction)

In French. 1752 La Societe des Libraires (Paris), duodecimo, 4 1/8 x 6 3/4 inches tall full contemporary leather bound, intricate gilt-tooled floral compartments and the original contrasting red leather title label ('IMITATION DE J. CHRIST') to spine, xxiv, 638, [10] pp. Binding shows moderate wear, with vertical cracking along the spine leather and typical rubbing and drying to the joints, corners, and spine ends. Interior features a contemporary prior owner's name inscribed on the front pastedown. Light-to-moderate staining and creasing to the tips of the title page and the first few preliminary leaves. A handful of scattered pages throughout show minor instances of faint staining or light foxing. Otherwise, the text block remains remarkably clean, bright, crisp and completely unmarked. A tight, well-preserved 18th-century example of Father Gonnelieu's immensely popular French translation. 

A French version of the spiritual classic The Imitation of Christ, translated from the Latin by Jerome de Gonnelieu (1640-1715), a French Jesuit theologian, ascetical writer and preacher. He was the author, editor and translator of numerous works. The first edition of his version of The Imitation, with relevant observations and prayers following each of the book's many chapters, was first printed in Paris in 1712. 

The Imitation was written by Catholic monk Thomas Kempis (circa 1380-1471), as four separate books completed between 1420 and 1427, at Mount Saint Agnes monastery, in the town of Windesheim, located in what is now the Netherlands. He wrote these works for the instruction of novices of his Augustinian monastic order, followers of Geert Groote's Brethren of the Common Life. But the writings quickly became popular among all the literate faithful. There is probably no other book apart from the Bible which has been printed in so many editions and translations.