Books

Scarce first edition of the author's last novel, charting the formative years of a young woman. This copy has a contemporary Irish and female provenance: initially sold by Thomas Connolly of Dublin, it entered the library of Helena Butson in 1850 and afterwards became part of a circulating library in the city. We trace only two complete copies at auction in the past fifty years, the most recent in 2019. In her journal for 7 June 1836, Shelley recorded: "I am now writing 'Falkner'... My best it will be, I believe." This is her only novel in which the female protagonist triumphs over violent and destructive masculinity. Elizabeth is "a female character who, unlike the heroines of Lodore and Matilda, manages to derail the agendas of dominant men, placing in their stead an ideal of 'feminine fosterage'" (Schor, p. 4). Falkner was the last work of fiction published in Shelley's lifetime; Matilda, also a novel, appeared posthumously in 1959. The work was favourably received by critics. The Atheneum praised it as "among the best, if not quite the best" of her novels, followed by The Monthly Repository (her "finest work"), and The Court Journal, which described the story as "one of absorbing interest, of infinite and varied beauty, and great power of delineation and development in the principal characters". Provenance: a) Dublin bookseller Thomas Connolly, with his ticket on the front pastedown. Connolly's shop was in 6 Chancery Place and in the Scarce first edition of the author's last novel, charting the formative years of a young woman. This copy has a contemporary Irish and female provenance: initially sold by Thomas Connolly of Dublin, it entered the library of Helena Butson in 1850 and afterwards became part of a circulating library in the city. We trace only two complete copies at auction in the past fifty years, the most recent in 2019. In her journal for 7 June 1836, Shelley recorded: "I am now writing 'Falkner'... My best it will be, I believe." This is her only novel in which the female protagonist triumphs over violent and destructive masculinity. Elizabeth is "a female character who, unlike the heroines of Lodore and Matilda, manages to derail the agendas of dominant men, placing in their stead an ideal of 'feminine fosterage'" (Schor, p. 4). Falkner was the last work of fiction published in Shelley's lifetime; Matilda, also a novel, appeared posthumously in 1959. The work was favourably received by critics. The Atheneum praised it as "among the best, if not quite the best" of her novels, followed by The Monthly Repository (her "finest work"), and The Court Journal, which described the story as "one of absorbing interest, of infinite and varied beauty, and great power of delineation and development in the principal characters". Provenance: a) Dublin bookseller Thomas Connolly, with his ticket on the front pastedown. Connolly's shop was in 6 Chancery Place and in the 1840s his stock comprised thousands of new and second-hand books. b) Helena Eyre Butson, née Maunsell (1821-1879), wife of Rev. Christopher Butson; her ownership inscription dated 1850 on the front pastedown and a pencilled note on the front free endpaper in a later hand giving her address as 49 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. A manuscript note at p. 168 in volume II, possibly in her hand, reads: "cloven foot again seen". c) Slightly later inscription "J. Jones, Black Rock circulating library" on second and third title pages, inscription erased but partly visible on first title page. In the mid-19th century, the district of Blackrock in Dublin was home to a circulating library, Hill's Select Lending Library, with premises at 16 Main Street. Hill's Select was associated with Mudie's offices in London, the largest circulating library in England. READ MORE Three vols in one, large duodecimo (183 x 108 mm). Twentieth-century half calf, spine with gilt raised bands, black morocco label, blind tooling in compartments, marbled paper boards, original endpapers preserved, edges sprinkled brown. With publisher's terminal advertisement leaf in Vol. I. One corner bumped, inner hinges superficially split, but firm, first title page toned and with small tape repair at foot on verso, occasional faint foxing and marks to contents, couple of marginal paper flaws or short closed tears not affecting text, one gathering standing slightly proud. A very good copy. Lyles IB1f; Wise, p. 21. Esther Schor, "Introduction", in The Cambridge Companion to Mary Shelley, 2003.

Falkner, a novel by Mary Shelley, addresses themes of redemption and moral restoration. The story is set in the 19th century and follows Elizabeth Raby, an orphan who is raised by Rupert Falkner, a man haunted by his past misdeeds. The narrative explores the complexities of loyalty, guilt, and the power of love as Elizabeth endeavors to save Falkner from his own sense of doom.