Books

A smart set of one of the most popular series of the 19th century. The first in the sequence, Waverley (1814), was "the progenitor and... archetype of the historical novel throughout the world. At one blow Scott had established a new literary form" (PMM). Waverley and the subsequent titles were immediately successful not only in Britain but also in the United States and Europe. The series ran until 1832, but Scott did not acknowledge authorship until 1827. All the novels were published between 1829 and 1833 as a collected edition titled the Waverley Novels, the name by which reviews referred to the works. Although only completed after his death in 1832, this was Scott's final literary endeavour, for which he provided prefaces and revisions. 48 vols, octavo (162 x 104 mm). Contemporary tan half calf, spines elaborately gilt in compartments, green and red morocco labels, marbled sides, endpapers, and edges. Engraved frontispiece and illustrated title page to each vol.. Contemporary bookplate of one John Boyer to front pastedowns. Edges lightly rubbed, couple of minor chips to spine heads, spots of foxing to outer leaves. A very nice set in a contemporary binding. Printing and the Mind of Man 273.

The novel 'Waverley' by Walter Scott is regarded as the first historical novel in the English language, blending history with fiction to portray the Jacobite uprising of 1745.