"Ask Mamma": or, The Richest Commoner in England

Surtees, Robert Smith

ISBN 10: 0837140358 / ISBN 13: 9780837140353

Published by Greenwood Press Reprint, Westport, CT, 1971

About this Item

ENGLISH HIST-AS NEW regular size hardcover. No dust jacket. green w/gilt titles Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Seller Inventory # Sept26-15mel15

Bibliographic Details

• Title: "Ask Mamma": or, The Richest Commoner in England
• Publisher: Greenwood Press Reprint, Westport, CT
• Publication Date: 1971
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0837140358
• ISBN 13: 9780837140353
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: As New
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Seller catalogs:
  • MEL

About this title

Synopsis

This delightful Victorian novel, beautifully illustrated with woodcuts by John Leech, follows the romantic exploits of two generations of the Pringle family. Miss Emma Willing is a humble seamstress who makes a good first marriage to Mr. Billy Pringle, the result of which is the hero of the story, their son Fine Billy. After the untimely death of her husband, Mrs. Pringle secures the launch of her son into polite country society by the Earl of Ladythorne. Once ensconced in the countryside, Billy soon forgets an early dalliance with a serving girl and finds himself immersed in the world of fox hunting, and courted by local society, including the Miss Yammertons. Filled with colorful and humorous characters, this book presents an affectionate but irreverent view of country life for the wealthy Victorian.

About the Author

Robert S. Surtees was born in 1803. In 1831, after the death of his brother made him heir to his father's fortune, he started the New Sporting Magazine with Rudolph Ackermann. In the pages of this magazine Surtees developed the humorous character Mr. John Jorrocks. As well as writing, Surtees became a Justice of the Peace for Durham, a Major in the local militia and High Sheriff of the county. He died at Brighton on 16 March 1864.