Books

First edition of this anti-sentimental satire on novel-reading by the author and translator Mary Charlton (1794-1824). Charlton wrote several popular novels for William Lane's Minerva Press and she "has much in common with her fellow Minerva best-sellers. All of Lane's top authors worked in the Gothic mode, providing their readers with tales of domestic persecution in quasi-exotic settings, but both contemporary and modern critics have professed to find Charlton's descriptions superior to those of her competitors... [Rosella is] her best work" (ODNB). WorldCat lists 11 copies in libraries worldwide. This copy from the library of John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl, with his armorial bookplate to front pastedowns. Four vols, duodecimo (170 x 100 mm). Contemporary quarter tree calf, marbled sides, vellum tips, spines gilt in compartments, red and black morocco labels. Half-title and engraved frontispiece to vol. I. Extremities lightly rubbed, minor wear to corners, occasional light spotting to text block, a few leaves with small chips to margins, a few closed tears; Volume I with mild offsetting from frontispiece, p. 153 with a 5 cm closed tear. A very good set. Block p.39; ESTC T140061; Summers p.488.