[Hugo, Victor- First English in Original Cloth, Near Fine] The Last Days of a Condemned; With Observations on Capital Punishment by M. P. Fleetwood (as preface)

Hugo, Victor

Published by Smith, Elder and Co, London, 1840

About this Item

First English Edition. 8vo. Original publisher s green fine-ribbed cloth with superb blind-stamped central design depicting the inside of a cathedral, gilt lettering to spine. Scarce first edition and issue; blue fine-ribbed cloth with superb stamped design of the interior of the church of the Carmelite Friary on both covers. FINE CONDITION. A penetrating and important psychological study written in the first person, strongly attacking capital punishment and calling, in prophetic terms, for reform: "We shall look on crime as a disease, physician shall displace the judges, its hospitals displace the galleys etc." This is a very scarce Hugo title, and almost never seen in presentable condition. Our copy is near fine. One of the earliest titles by Victor Hugo to appear in English, translated by Fleetwood, M.P., a vigorous abolitionist who here strongly argues the case in a 40pp preface and concludes that the "criminality of individuals is more frequently traceable to the evils incidental to an imperfect social system." Fine condition, with a few creases on preliminaries. Rarely seen thus.

Seller Inventory # 6601

Bibliographic Details

• Title: [Hugo, Victor- First English in Original Cloth, Near Fine] The Last Days of a Condemned; With Observations on Capital Punishment by M. P. Fleetwood (as preface)
• Publisher: Smith, Elder and Co, London
• Publication Date: 1840
• Edition: First English Edition.