THE AMBER WITCH . Translated by Lady Duff Gordon. Edited with an Introduction by Joseph Jacobs .

Meinhold, [Johann] W[ilhelm]

Published by Published by David Nutt, London, 1895

About this Item

Octavo, pp. [i-vi] vii-xxi [xxii-xxvi] xxvii-xxxiii [xxxiv] xxxv-xxxviii [xxxix-xl] [1] 2-221 [222: printer's imprint] 223-224: blank] [note: last leaf is a blank], five inserted plates with illustrations by Philip Burne-Jones, title page printed in red and black, publisher's pictorial cream cloth, front and spine panels stamped in yellow-green and gold, t.e.g., other edges untrimmed. First printing of this edition. The first edition in English of Meinhold's MARIA SCHWEIDLER DIE BERNSTEINHEXE . (1843), translated by E. A. Friedlaender, was published in 1844 by H. G. Clarke & Co. Later the same year John Murray published a version of the work translated by Lady Duff Gordon, the latter superior to Friedlaender and the translation often reprinted. Story, set in the time of the Thirty Years War, of a young girl falsely accused of witchcraft - while the real witch is unsuspected. "A minor masterpiece, still the best novel about witchcraft." - Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1142. Meinhold "retains a place in the history of supernatural fiction largely because he was a pioneer of the genre. His THE AMBER WITCH (1843) and SIDONIA THE SORCERESS (1847-1848) are generally considered two of the earliest and finest witch novels of the nineteenth century. He was also one of the first to adopt the form, language, and documentary style of the chronicle. He wrote with such finesse that some of his contemporaries were convinced that the chronicles were authentic." - Bleiler (ed), Supernatural Fiction Writers: Fantasy and Horror, p. 121. Praised and discussed at length by Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature, pp. 46-47. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 2-63. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature, pp. 46-7. Bleiler (1978), p. 137. Not in Reginald (1979; 1992). Not in Bloch (2002; 2010). Cloth lightly foxed and dust soiled, lower front fore-edge corner worn, a very good copy. An attractive edition of this classic that is seldom found in decent condition. (#171898).

Seller Inventory # 171898

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE AMBER WITCH . Translated by Lady Duff Gordon. Edited with an Introduction by Joseph Jacobs .
• Publisher: Published by David Nutt, London
• Publication Date: 1895
• Binding: Hardcover
• Seller catalogs:
  • Victorian Fiction
  • Supernatural