2 volumes. First edition. A publisher's presentation copy with their purple "Compliments" stamp to Vol. I. 8vo, in the scarce original dark blue/green cloth, the boards with ruled lines in light green, the spines also ruled in light green and with letting in gilt. Now housed in a fine custom clamshell box. 247; 212 pp. A fine set, and scarce in the publisher's cloth, this a very rare "Publishers' Compliments" copy. The text clean and fresh, the binding bright with only a tiny bit of age or wear. A SCARCE HARDY TITLE IN ORIGINAL CLOTH, THERE WERE ONLY 750 COPIES PRINTED AND OF THOSE ONLY 634 WERE BOUND, the rest of the sheets were remaindered. This copy is not only very unusual for its exceptional and bright condition but also for being a publisher's presentation copy. The work consists of five stories (The Three Strangers, The Withered Arm, Fellow-Townsmen, Interlopers at the Knap, and The Distracted Preacher)previously published only in serials. In the various short stories, Hardy writes of the true nature of nineteenth-century marriage and its inherent restrictions, the use of grammar as a diluted form of thought, the disparities created by the role of class status in determining societal rank, the stance of women in society and the severity of even minor diseases causing the rapid onset of fatal symptoms prior to the introduction of sufficient medicinal practices. A focal point of all the short stories is that of social constraints acting to diminish one's contentment in life, necessitating unwanted marriages, repression of true emotion and succumbing to melancholia due to constriction within the confines of 19th-century perceived normalcy. Seller Inventory # 29205

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title: WESSEX TALES. Strange, Lively, and ...

Publisher: London Macmillan and Co. 1888

Binding: Hardcover

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: 1st Edition

Store Description

Buddenbrooks has one of the finest selections of fine and rare books in several fields and we invite you to visit us at our new premises in Newburyport, Massachusetts where have an open "brick and mortar" bookshop. We are also available to meet with clients in Boston by appointment only, where we have maintained a presence for over 40 years. We offer a search service for any books, old or new, which you may have been unable to find. Please call for further information, we look forward to hearing from you.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Association Member

Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

Buddenbrooks, Inc. ABAA
21 Pleasant Street, On the Courtyard, Newburyport, MA, 01950, U.S.A.

Terms of Sale:

All books are offered subject to prior sale. All books are returnable within 10 days, we ask that you notify
us via fax, phone or email in advance. Buddenbrooks, Inc. is located at 21 Pleasant Street, On the
Courtyard, in Newburyport, MA 01950 USA. All correspondences should be sent to this address to the
attention of Martin Weinkle or Stephen Pepple.

Shipping Terms:

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Payment Methods
accepted by seller

Check Money Order Cash Bank/Wire Transfer

Add to Wants