La Bande Arlequin

“La Bande Arlequin” (“The Harlequin Gang”) is a rare illustrated edition in French from the famous “Petite Bibliothèque Blanche” series, published by a Parisian publishing house for young readers. The book tells the adventures of Harlequin and his companions, characters inspired by the commedia dell’arte. The plot is filled with humor, kind imagination, and theatrical charm. The subtle satire, lively dialogues, and expressive illustrations by the artist Gido create an atmosphere of a fairy-tale performance. The richly decorated cover with a floral ornament and a picturesque scene gives the edition artistic and collector’s value. The book is of interest as a monument of French children’s literature at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.