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Hard cover, 8vo, in green boards, black spine, with title printed in gold along the spine, in the original, illustrated dust jacket, now protected in mylar. Fore edge left rough-trimmed to appear as a genuine nineteenth-century book, which would have required the reader (or their librarian) to open the printed pages with a letter opener. Stated First U.S. edition, 3rd printing. 416 pp. [422]. CONDITION: Fine. In a Near Fine dust jacket.** Cora Seaborne, a wealthy and newly-widowed single mother living in London is released by the death of an abusive husband to return to her first passion, the study of natural history. She travels to Essex with her son Francis and caring servant and bosom friend, Martha, against the advice of Dr. Luke Garrett, and takes a cottage. There she digs for fossils, as the landscape has shifted during a recent earthquake. But other strange happenings intrude. An mysterious, mythic creature is blamed for the death of a young woman upon the Essex marsh. Hysteria among the villagers ensues. The local vicar and his family are not immune to the conflict of religious fear and bigotry versus scientific enquiry as it was fast developing during this time period. It is a well crafted plot, with memorable characters noting many of the social inequalities and stresses brought to light by the advances of medicine, science and technology in Victorian England. Also made in to a 2022 television series starring Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston. (IMDb.)
Ref: FICTC 9569
$35.00