Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The original edition of Astarte, so named after the character in Byron’s Manfred, appeared first in the year 1905. The author had intended to write for private circulation only, desiring above all things to avoid the possibility of making money out of the story of his ancestors, but he found it necessary to protect the copyright of his book by going through the form of publication. Out of two hundred copies printed a small number only were sold to approved purchasers, selected from a long list of applicants. The remainder were given away. The few copies that have since then from time to time reached the auction room have realised very high prices.<br><br>Astarte has therefore been read hitherto by comparatively few persons, but it is known by hearsay to a great many. It has been almost inevitably misrepresented as an immoral book, unnecessarily raking up a half-forgotten scandal. Those who know the pain and travail of mind with which it was produced, and how distasteful to the author was the duty of clearing away once for all the cloud of calumnies and injustices which had settled round certain facts, feel that the time has come for defending his memory. His book shall speak for itself. He had always foreseen that it must sooner or later be given to a wider public.
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