Editing Manon Lescaut (section)

== Composition and publication ==
[[File:Histoire Du Chevalier des Grieux & de Manon Lescaut 1731.png|thumb|First page of the original 1731 version of the story, as volume VII of ''Mémoires et aventures d'un homme de Qualité'']]

Prévost likely composed ''Manon Lescaut'' in March and April 1731.{{sfn|Sgard|1991|p=vii}} At the time, he was in Amsterdam, and was writing quickly to satisfy his contract with the Compagnie des Libraires d'Amsterdam.{{sfn|Sgard|1991|p=vii}} The story was first published as volume VII of his successful novel ''Memoirs and Adventures of a Man of Quality, Who Withdrew from the World'' ({{Langx|fr|Mémoires et aventures d'un homme de qualité, qui s'est retiré du monde}}), and was released with volumes V and VI in May 1731.{{sfn|Sgard|1991|p=vii-viii}}

The narrative of Manon Lescaut is set apart from the main events of ''Memoirs and Adventures'', with a preface and a preamble.{{sfn|Sgard|1991|p=viii}} The preface, titled "Note from the author" ({{Langx|fr|Avis de l'Auteur}}), explains that the story was too large to include within the main narrative.{{Sfn|Prévost|1731|loc=[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1510524s/f11.item p. 1]}} It also says the story will be a morally-instructive example for readers, who will learn not to imitate des Grieux.{{Sfn|Prévost|1731|loc=|p=2-8}} The preamble is narrated by the unnamed "man of quality" ({{Langx|Fr|homme de qualité}}) who is the protagonist of the main novel. He witnesses a group of prostitutes being deported. Curious about a particularly beautiful one (Manon), he speaks with the lover travelling with her (des Grieux). Two years later, he encounters des Grieux again, and asks to hear the full story of his experience in America.{{Sfn|Prévost|1731|loc=|p=9-21}}

A substantially revised edition appeared as a standalone publication in 1753.{{sfn|Johnson|2002|p=169}} The standalone volume was titled ''The Story of the Chevalier des Grieux and of Manon Lescaut'' ({{Langx|fr|Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut}}),{{Sfn|Prévost|1753|loc=[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k850410d/f7.item title page]}} which was the subtitle of volume VII of ''Memoirs and Adventures''.{{Sfn|Prévost|1731|loc=[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1510524s/f19.item p.9]}} This edition claimed on its title page to be published in Amsterdam by the Compagnie des Libraires, but was actually published in Paris by François Didot.{{sfn|Scholar|2004|p=xxxi}} In this edition, Prévost modified some of his most sensationalist language,{{sfn|Scholar|2004|p=xxxi}} added a new scene where Manon resists the seduction of an Italian prince,{{Sfn|Ross|1983|p=200}} and rewrote the ending to replace des Grieux's religious conversion with a more [[Secularity|secular]] morality.{{sfn|Scholar|2004|p=xxxi}} The 1753 edition also added eight illustrations and an [[Allegory|allegorical]] vignette on the first page.{{sfn|Scholar|2004|p=xxxiii}}<!--note: there's more to say about these illustrations in Scholar-->