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[4], 240pp, half title. 12mo. Small paper-flaw hole to blank lower margin C5, sl. water-staining to lower gutter margin. Contemporary calf, gilt ruled border, neatly rebacked, raised & gilt banded spine, red & green gilt labels; sl. wear to corners. Armorial bookplate of Henry Knight Esq., 1738-1772, Tythegston, Glamorganshire. ESTC T129359. The first edition of Sheridan's final work published the year following the author's death. It can be placed amongst the other English 'oriental' fictions of this period; Johnson's Rasselas (1759), and Hawkeworth's Almoran and Hamet (1761). Nourjahad, the friend and favourite of Schemzeddin, Sultan of Persia, is destined to be his Prime Vizier on the retirement of Cosro whose daughter, Mandane, is united with Nourjahad. The latter is, however, restless and ambitious; he desires immortality, and the prospective delights of Paradise, as promised by Mahomet to the faithful. In a conversation with the Sultan, Nourjahad avows his impious thoughts, and the former determines to avert this infidelity by making use of a stratagem whereby the fancies of Nourjahad are apparently realised. Henry Knight, 1738-1772, Tythegston, Glamorganshire, was Vice Lieutenant of that county, and a Colonel of its Militia. His wife left him in 1769, and the following year he was painted with his children by Zoffany. Seller Inventory # 90945
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