A comedy by Thomas d'Hèle, mixed with ariettas composed by André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, Les Fausse apparences or L'Amant jaloux was premiered at Versailles on 20 November 1778 and then in Paris on 23 December, during Advent, and in the midst of the festivities accompanying the birth of Madame Royale, the first child of the royal couple. This 23rd opera by Grétry – the second with d'Hèle – was an immediate success, although this double premiere was complicated by a few twists of fate; the work was performed without interruption until the beginning of March 1779, and was much commented upon; it was also very often revived in France and abroad. Grétry’s music quickly gave rise to numerous arrangements for all kinds of vocal and instrumental groups. The success of L'Amant jaloux probably owed much to the intelligent collaboration of the two authors: Grimm acknowledged that there was perhaps no poet "whose genius sympathised more happily with that of Grétry", none who provided him with "subjects and situations more analogous to the character of his music".

Comparative studies by historians of art, literature, theatre and music, this book was produced with the help of Pierre Frantz, Dominique Lauvernier, Benjamin Pintiaux, Jacqueline Waeber and Jean Duron.

The book contains 45 illustrations, 14 of which are in colour.