"Everything in the world exists in order to end up as a book"
— Stephan Mallarme

London: Chapman and Hall Limited, W.R. Howell and Co., no date [circa 1880s]. [Classic literature] Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[xvi]; 624. Illustrated by H.K. Browne, with tissue guards to engravings. Elegantly bound in dark green half morocco over cloth sides, decorated in gilt, with raised bands, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Very light wear and marking only; fine. A lovely copy in the same format as the first edition. This landmark novel weaves together a number of stories concerning a self-important merchant and his two children. Dickens takes aim at arranged marriages, and along the way deals with child cruelty, broken and abusive familial relationships, and the fears elicited by the advent of the railway - which, towards the end of his life, Dickens was to experience for himself while writing Our Mutual Friend. Item #54392
Price: £75.00