Letters to Richard Heber, Esq. M.P. containing Critical Remarks on the Series of Novels beginning with "Waverley," and An Attempt to Ascertain Their Author.
London: Rodwell and Martin, 1822. Second Edition [stated]. Presumed First Printing thus. Leather bound. viii, 317, [7] pages. Marbled endpapers. Birthday note from 1937 pasted to fep. Newspaper clippings on the death of the author pasted onto following free end pages. Pencil notation "Presentation copy (see half-title) by John L. Adolphus, re Sir Walter Scott authorship of "Waverley" etc.]. Inscribed to R. Greene Bradley on the half-title page. Mr. Bradley noted, in 1862, the death of the author in a note also on the half-title page. The author also appears to have added his name in ink to the title page (which does not state the author). John Leycester Adolphus (1795?1862) was an English lawyer, jurist and author. . In 1821 he published "Letters to Richard Heber, Esq.", in which he discussed the authorship of the then anonymous Waverley novels, and fixed it upon Sir Walter Scott. This conclusion was based on the resemblance of the novels in general style and method to the poems acknowledged by Scott. Rare autographed copy. Scott thought at first that the letters were written by Reginald Heber, afterwards bishop of Calcutta, and the discovery of J. L. Adolphus's identity led to a warm friendship. Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet FRSE FSA Scot (15 August 1771 ? 21 September 1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Old Mortality, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. Scott's knowledge of history, and his facility with literary technique, made him a seminal figure in the establishment of the historical novel genre, as well as an exemplar of European literary Romanticism. Richard Heber (5 January 1773 ? 4 October 1833) was an English book-collector. Heber was one of the 18 founders in 1812 of the Roxburghe Club of bibliophiles. Sir Walter Scott classed Heber's library as "superior to all others in the world" Condition: Good.
Keywords: Richard Heber, Walter Scott, Waverley, Authorship, Scholarship, Content Analysis, Marmion, Poetry, Novels, Scottish Literature, English Literature
[Book #78336]
Price: $1,000.00