Lettres de la Marquise de M*** au Comte de R*** (The Letters of the Marchionesse de M*** to the Count of R***) is an epistolary novel by Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, usually called Crébillon fils or Crébillon le Gai to distinguish him from his father, who was a famous tragedian.

First published in 1732, it is considered the first major work by Crébillon fils, who was then just twenty-five years old. It tells the story of a love affair, and is distinguished by its originality, as the reader has access only to the woman’s letters, allowing them to discover and explore the relationship from a single point of view. We never know, except by implication, the contents of the count’s responses. The novel explores the different phases of the relationship, from its beginnings to its tragic end, and depicts the fluctuations of the writer’s feelings. It explores the themes of love, passion, suffering, and the complexity of human relationships, and provides important insights into the way that love and passion were experienced in the early eighteenth century.

The ten monochrome plates that Bécat made for this edition are some of the best of his later work, showing that he had lost none of his enthusiasm or eye for detail. His lovers are true vintage Bécat.

The novel was translated into English in 1735 by Samuel Humphreys, and several print and online versions of this translation are readily available. A free online version of the 1735 edition can be found here.

The Bécat-illustrated Crebillon Lettres was published by Paris-based Au Cercle de Live Précieuse in a limited numbered edition of 3,500 copies.