Peter's Letters to his Kinsfolk (Three Volumes, Complete)

This is the second collected edition of John Gibson Lockhart's satirical letters, written as Dr Peter Morris, in half-leather over marbled boards, recently professionally rebacked with the original spines laid on. The spines are in six compartments separated by raised bands with gilt borders, gilt lettering on black leather labels in one compartment, new endpapers. Illustrated with 18 engraved vignettes and portraits of certain eminent gentleman, including Sir Walter Scott. Includes a Postscript to the Third Edition, addressed to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, at the rear of Volume III. While stated to be the Third Edition, it is, in fact, the Second Edition, the First Edition having been styled as the Second Edition, in keeping with the facetous nature of the project. "In this work of epistolary fiction, Dr Peter Morris, a Welshman, travels to Scotland and connects with the important personages of the age. Penetrating and lively character sketches are the highlights of his letters to friends and relatives in Wales. As one of the most important chronicles of early nineteenth-century life in Scotland Peter's Letters can be seen as the 'biography of a culture' (Hart, 46)." (DNB) The three volumes are comprised of 77 letters lampooning Edinburgh society, from the mischievous pen of John Gibson Lockhart, with the assistance of John Wilson. The Letters quickly became essential reading, not least for their unequivocal mockery of some of the leading writers of the day, most notably the members of the "Cockney School", many of whom he had earlier lambasted in the pages of Blackwood's Magazine. Lockhart directed particular scorn at Leigh Hunt and William Hazlitt, declaring them to be "by far the vilest vermin that ever dared to creep upon the hem of the majestic garment of the English muse." According to Sir Walter Scott, who had published the first edition of "Paul's Letters to His Kinfolk" in 1816, the work offended some "by its truth." John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854) was a Scottish writer and editor. He is best known as the author of the definitive biography of his father-in-law Sir Walter Scott, which has been called the second most admirable in the English language, after Boswell's Life of Johnson. Lockhart married Scott's eldest daughter, Sophia, in 1820. John Wilson (1785-1854) was a Scottish advocate, literary critic and author, the writer most frequently identified with the pseudonym Christopher North of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. He was professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University (1820-51). Professionally rebacked with original spines laid on; corners mildly bumped, moderate foxing throughout; original binder's (Johnton of Edinburgh), label on fep; two small old bookseller's labels on fep and ffep of volume one (Bateman & Kiddie of Hastings), otherwise unmarked and square. VERY GOOD. Engraved Portraits. 8vo 8" - 9" tall. xxi, 337; viii, 363; ix, 376 pages.…