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Hard cover, Post 8vo., (4 x 7 inches), in contemporary three-quarter calf, over marbled paper-covered boards, edged with a narrow floral roll in blind, the spine double-ruled with gilt into faux compartments, the titles upon onlaid black morocco labels gilt to the second and fifth, the remaining compartments tooled with a diamond-shaped neoclassical stamp in blind. All edges marbled, marbled end papers. Original owner signature in old ink to title page each volume. Printed by James Ballantyne and Co., Edinburgh. First Edition first state, with comma at end of imprint line 3 of each volume, each vol. with a half title, without errata end Vol. 3, and Vol. 4, p. 253 as called for. No advertising, and title pages precede half title pages, as bound. Vol. I: [2] xxxii, 302pp. [2]. Vol. II:, 319pp., Vol. III, 315pp. and Vol. IV: 320pp. CONDITION: Very Good Plus, or better. Moderate external wear to marbled paper on the boards, light rubbing at tips. Spine decoration just a bit skewed in execution (hence more charming.) Some inconsequential staining at head of spine. Hinges and joints in order. Light foxing to fly leaves. Original owner signature in old ink to title page each volume. Text remains generally bright and clean.** This title was the ninth of Scotland's SIR WALTER SCOTT's (1771-1832) Waverley novels, first published 1822 (Jan. 1823). An amusing "Prefatory Letter," a colloquy between the fictional Dr. Jonas Driasdust and Sir Walter Scott, begins with some droll banter regarding the author's creative process, appearance, appetites and associations, and defending his "fictitious narratives" against more dour antiquarian critics. This lengthy novel, set just after the conclusion of the English Civil War, and at the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, is a saga of two families. Sir Geoffrey Peveril, honorable Knight cavalier and his wife, Lady Margaret Stanley Peveril, have had their family seat at Martindale Castle partially destroyed by Cromwellian forces, and facing economic penalties, have had to resort to financing the estate by selling off lands to a melancholic Presbyterian (puritan) neighbor, Major Bridgenorth. While on differing sides of the late political conflicts, the families are linked by a cooperative spirit by their remaining children, death having taken an excessive toll especially on the wellbeing of Bridgenorth, who leaves his only surviving daughter, Alice in the care of the Peverils after devastating losses. The plot goes on to follow the Peverils fight for the protection of their "cousin" Countess Charlotte of Derby, Queen of Man, (Lady Peveril's relation) who has a royal warrant and threats of imprisonment for summary justice done to a traitorous vassal responsible for the death of her husband; he turns out to be a close relation of Bridgenorth, however, leading to many awkward consequences for the relationship of the two Derbyshire families, and emigration of Bridgenorth to New England for a time. Essential to the work are the portrayals of great personal strength and leadership of the main women characters. If you enjoyed the Wolf Hall trilogy, or historical fiction in general, you will appreciate the sometimes boisterous, swaggering style of Sir Walter Scott. Todd and Bowden (1998) No. 165Aa. Watson 6783. Wolff 6232. (AMJ)
Ref: SCOTT 9857
$485.00