The spaewife; a tale of the scottish chronicles.
Edinburgh.
Published by Oliver & Boyd, 1823.
First edition.
12mo.
In three volumes. [2], 312; [2], 318; 315pp, [1]. Contemporary green half-calf, tooled in gilt and blind, marbled paper boards, contrasting brown morocco lettering- pieces. A trifle rubbed and marked, spines lightly sunned. Contemporary inked ownership inscriptions of British politician John Charles Herries (1778-1855) to front blank fly- leaves, scattered spotting.
The first edition of John Galt's (1779-1839) triple decker medieval romance set during the reign of James I of Scotland.
Galt remarked in his The Literary Life and Miscellanies (Edinburgh, 1834) that The Spaewife 'resembles too much the compositions of Sir Walter Scott, with whom I never placed myself consciously in any rivalry'.
The Monthly Review (Vol. CIV, 1824) afforded the novel a lukewarm reception: 'We acknowledge that the work discovers talents:- but we must observe that, in emulating his great original in his own peculiar department, - the historical novel, - the author affords an instance rather of daring than of success.'
£ 125.00
Antiquates Ref: 33316
Galt remarked in his The Literary Life and Miscellanies (Edinburgh, 1834) that The Spaewife 'resembles too much the compositions of Sir Walter Scott, with whom I never placed myself consciously in any rivalry'.
The Monthly Review (Vol. CIV, 1824) afforded the novel a lukewarm reception: 'We acknowledge that the work discovers talents:- but we must observe that, in emulating his great original in his own peculiar department, - the historical novel, - the author affords an instance rather of daring than of success.'
