Edited Currer Bell (2 results)

Rare first edition of this revolutionary feminist romance, of which reportedly only about 500 copies were printed in the first edition. Octavo, three volumes, finely bound in full calf with gilt titles and elaborate tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt tooling to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. Housed in a custom half calf clamshell box. An exceptional example. Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels have become classics of English literature. She first published her works under the pen name Currer Bell, including her best known novel, 'Jane Eyre,' which revolutionized prose fiction through its use of first person to provide intimate knowledge about the protagonist's private consiousness. The book contains elements of social criticism with a strong sense of Christian morality at its core and is considered by many to be ahead of its time for its approach to feminism, sexuality, class, and religion. In very good condition, with vol. III with the expected pagination errors: "23" on page 32 and "252" on page 225, armorial bookplates to the front pastedown of each volume, intermitent toning to the outer leaves of each volume, vol. I lacking the leaf with pages 81-82.

First American edition of this revolutionary feminist romance, issued as number 109 in Harper's Library of Select Novels. Octavo, finely bound in half calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, printed in to columns throughout, single leaf of publisher's ads dated October 1847 advertising Webster's Dictionary on the recto. In very good condition with light dampstaining to the title page, intermitent toning to the text, and a small closed tear to the advertising page. An exceptional presentation. Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels have become classics of English literature. She first published her works under the pen name Currer Bell, including her best known novel, 'Jane Eyre,' which revolutionized prose fiction through its use of first person to provide intimate knowledge about the protagonist's private consiousness. The book contains elements of social criticism with a strong sense of Christian morality at its core and is considered by many to be ahead of its time for its approach to feminism, sexuality, class, and religion.