Les cent nouvelles nouvelles (The Hundred New Stories) is a collection of tales supposed to be narrated by various persons at the court of Philippe le Bon, and collected together by Antoine de la Sale in the mid-15th century. The Nouvelles, collected (and probably written) by de la Sale, are according to the authority on French literature George Saintsbury ‘undoubtedly the first work of literary prose in French. The short prose tale of a comic character is the one French literary product the pre-eminence and perfection of which it is impossible to dispute, and the prose tale first appears to advantage in Les cent nouvelles nouvelles.’

The stories provide fascinating glimpses of life in the fifteenth century. Historian Charles Lenient writes ‘Generally the incidents and personages belong to the bourgeoisie; there is nothing chivalric, nothing wonderful; no dreamy lovers, romantic dames, fairies or enchanters. Noble dames, nuns, knights, merchants, monks and peasants mutually dupe each other. The lord deceives the miller’s wife by imposing on her simplicity, and the miller retaliates in much the same manner. The vices of monks are depicted in half a score tales, and the seducers are punished with a severity not always in proportion to the offence.’

Edmond Malassis’ colourful illustrations are designed to display the most possible female nudity while still remaining acceptable to the volume’s discerning readership.

Les cent nouvelles nouvelles was published by the prestigious Paris house Javal et Bourdeaux, in a limited numbered edition of 550 copies.