Things as They Are; Or, the Adventures of Caleb Williams.: In Three Volumes. The Fourth Edition.

London: printed for W. Simpkin and R. Marshal,, 1816. Handsomely bound fourth edition of the author's first and most successful novel, "a prototype for the novels which followed" (ODNB). First published in 1794, it popularises Godwin's radical political sentiments regarding tyrannical government and aristocratic privilege. This edition includes Godwin's original preface, censored from the first edition for its supposedly treasonous content, and reinstated from the second edition onwards. A novelization of the arguments introduced in Godwin's treatise Political Justice (1793), which included the assertion that politics had lost sight of morality and was an early proponent of anarchism, this book was written against the radical political climate of the 1790s. Godwin described his objective as "to expose the evils which arise out of the present system of civilised society; and to lead the enquiring reader to examine whether they are... irremediable... to disengage the minds of men from presuppositions, and to launch them upon the sea of moral and political enquiry" (ibid.). Provenance: from the library of George Agar-Ellis, 1st Baron Dover (1797-1833). Presumably the sentiments of Caleb Williams appealed to him; "Agar-Ellis was a consistent supporter of liberal principles, as well as an earnest advocate of everything which tended to the improvement of the people" (ODNB). Three volumes, duodecimo (173 x 105 mm). Contemporary polished calf, smooth spines lettered and ruled in gilt, compartments with decorative motifs tooled in gilt, twin black morocco labels, double fillet borders with supralibros of George Agar-Ellis in gilt on covers, dot-and-circle roll in gilt on board edges, floriate roll in gilt to turn-ins, red marbled endpapers and edges, blue silk bookmarkers. Bound without the half-titles. Covers a little marked but presenting nicely, joints expertly refurbished, knock to top edge of vol. I rear cover, internally clean with occasional spotting and browning, a handful of tiny perforations and chips: a very good copy.