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The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.: A Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Q. Anne. Written by Himself. In Three Volumes.
by THACKERAY, William Makepeace
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: printed for Smith, Elder, & Company,, 1852. First edition of the novel often cited alongside Vanity Fair as the author's masterpiece. "Thackeray once again plays off the narrator's insights against the reader's suspicions, giving readers one of the most thought-provoking and unsettling among Victorian novels" (ODNB). "It is on Esmond that Thackeray's fame as a historical novelist primarily rests. The first, three-volume edition was printed in an antique typeface and with antique spelling. Set during the reign of Queen Anne, the novel focuses attention on the English revolution and on the conflicts over succession caused by William III and Anne having no surviving children. Like Barry Lyndon, who writes his life's history while in prison at the end of his life, the narrator and main character, Henry Esmond, writes his memoirs in the twilight of his years on his estate in Virginia, a property he came to after all the events worth telling about his life have taken place" (ibid.). Three volumes, octavo (177 x 115 mm). Near contemporary brown half calf, titles in gilt to black morocco spine labels, floral motifs in gilt to spines, marbled boards, endpapers, and edges. Armorial bookplate to front pastedown of Capt. Charles Ruddell-Todd (1831-1901), 2nd Middlesex or Edmonton Royal Rifle Regiment. Light scuffing to extremities, a little rubbed, the spines notably unfaded, occasional slight spotting or finger-soiling, else internally fresh. A very good, attractive set. Van Duzer 112.
Synopsis
What spectacle is more august than that of a great king in exile? Who is more worthy of respect than a brave man in misfortune?' When "Henry Esmond" appeared in 1852, noted writers and critics of the time acclaimed it as the best historical novel ever written. Set in the reign of Queen Anne, the story follows the troubled progress of a gentleman and an officer in Marlborough's army, as he painfully wrestles with an emotional allegiance to the old Tory-Catholic England until, disillusioned, he comes to terms of a kind with the Whiggish-Protestant future. This change also entails a very uncomfortable switch in his affections. The love story of Henry Esmond is charged with sombre, unconscious emotions, yet is skilfully embedded into historical events which are convincing but never too prominent.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Peter Harrington
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 139906
- Title
- The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.
- Author
- THACKERAY, William Makepeace
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Place of Publication
- London: printed for Smith, Elder, & Company,
- Date Published
- 1852
- Note
- May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.
Terms of Sale
Peter Harrington
All major credit cards are accepted. Both UK pounds and US dollars (exchange rate to be agreed) accepted. Books may be returned within 14 days of receipt for any reason, please notify first of returned goods.
About the Seller
Peter Harrington
Biblio member since 2006
London
About Peter Harrington
Since its establishment, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Peter Harrington first began selling rare books from the Chelsea Antiques Market on London's King's Road. For the past twenty years the business has been run by Pom Harrington, Peter's son.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- A.N.
- The book is pristine and free of any defects, in the same condition as ...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Bookplate
- Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
- Fair
- is a worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title, etc....
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Marbled boards
- ...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
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