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Hard cover, 8vo in brown vertically striped publisher's cloth stamped in blind with winged circular motif to front board within a double ruled border. Design is mirrored on the rear board. The spine is blocked with five faux bands triple ruled in blind, with title, author name and "Scenes of a Clerical Life" in smaller italics below. "Harper & Brothers." at foot of spine. Glazed brown endpapers, [2], iv, 452pp. plus 4 pp. undated publisher's advertisements at rear, beginning with "The New Novels," (ads comprised of [1-3] and p. 2), [2]. Harper's published the first American edition of the work in 1859; it is not known for sure, however, if this is that earliest printing. There is no copyright statement opposite title page, which has date of 1859. Presumed later state of the American First Edition.**CONDITION: Very Good Minus. Some small marks to boards, wear at corners, and water staining to lower right corner which affects boards and makes a roughly 1-1/4 inch tidemark to all pages. 1/8th inch loss to cloth at head of spine, minor shelf wear at foot. Some stains to top edge of text block. Otherwise, square and firmly bound. Inside, hinges are in order with very minor cracking at rear, and a couple of small holes to ffep. Former owner's name in pencil to ffep. Pages generally bright, with light top margin foxing to prelims and water stain as mentioned. Now in a mylar protector. ** Warwickshire-born English novelist, GEORGE ELIOT (Mary Ann Evans), (1819-1880) followed up on the successful reception of her first short story collection, "Scenes of Clerical Life" ( Blackwoods, 1858) with this highly original and-- for its time-- controversial novel. A young, female Methodist preacher, Dinah Morris, attracts the admiration of the carpenter, Adam Bede's brother, Seth, but she refuses his offer of marriage in lieu of continuing her good works. Her presence in the small community brings uneasiness, however, to the house of Donnithorn, whose head is the well-to-do Vicar of Hayslope. His godson, the militia captain Arthur Donnithorn, is attracted to a young countrywoman, Hetty Sorrel and despite some moral qualms, he seduces her. Adam also has hopes of marrying Hetty at one point, and a love triangle ensues only to end in the young woman's degradation, the death of her illegitimate child, trial for murder and eventual transportation. Adam Bede eventually finds love with the Methodist preacher Dinah. From the North American Review: "Thoroughly simple and natural, its truthfulness is full of strength, and its simplicity is that of reality. There is as quiet atmosphere permeating the whole book, as the warm June sunshine fills the air. Thermal scenes, the honest daily work, the home-talk of shrewd and hearty men and women,--all are managed with skill, and show the writer's own thorough appreciation of a quiet country life." NAR, Oct. 1859, Vol 89, No. 185, 547-54pp. A worthy early reading copy. Watson 900.
Ref: FICT19 9103
$75.00