Books

London: Chapman and Hall, 1865. 2 volumes bound as one, retaining both original titlepages. First edition. Numerous illustrations by Marcus Stone. 8vo, in contemporary three-quarter pebble near black dark green morocco over marbled boards. The spines finely decorated with multi-ruled gilt framed compartments bordered with floral vine tools separated by raised gilt decorated bands, two compartments gilt lettered, edges marbled. xi, 320; [3], viii, 306. A very nice and proper copy, the text very clean and fresh and solid, the binding with some expected age mellowing but still quite handsome. FIRST EDITION, this was the second to last book that Dickens would write, and the last one that he would actually finish. The years shortly before the publication of OUR MUTUAL FRIEND were fraught with domestic sorrow that would lead to his eventual decline. He separated from his wife Catherine in 1858 after his admiration for the young actress Ellen Ternan strained his already…

Charles Dickens's last completed novel, a work of satire and social commentary that paints a vivid portrait of the dualities of wealth and poverty in London.