Books

First edition in English, first issues throughout, with each title page dated 1886 and with the publisher's imprint on the copyright pages; here in an attractive contemporary binding. Published in three pairs of volumes from January to August 1886, it precedes Vizetelly's London edition of October. The translator Clara Bell (née Poynter, 1835-1927) was fluent in a remarkable range of European languages, rendering into English the works of Ibsen, Balzac, and Georg Ebers, amongst others, in genres including romance, art, music, travel, and biography. George du Maurier thought her "the cleverest woman of our acquaintance" (p. 202). Although resident in London, Bell was regularly published in New York by William S. Gottsberger, who had already issued many of her translations to great acclaim. Her two-page postscript at the beginning of the fifth volume comments on her scheme of transliterating Russian names. War and Peace (1865-69) was first translated into a foreign language in Princess Irina Ivanovna Paskevich's French edition of 1879; her second edition of 1884 serves as the basis for Bell's translation. This period saw the first flush of enthusiasm for previously disregarded Russian novelists, paving the way for their international recognition and acclaim. 3 parts in six volumes, small octavo (156 x 106 mm). Contemporary black straight-grain half morocco, spines lettered and ruled in gilt, dark green pebble-grain cloth sides, buff endpapers, edges speckled red. All housed in custom black cloth slipcase. Publisher's 6-page ads at end of vol. I, other vols bound without ads. 1887 ink stamp of Charles George Penney (1844-1926), American brigadier general, on three title pages and a couple of pages of text; sparse pencil annotations converting Russian metrics and currency into contemporary American equivalents; rear pastedown of vol. I with bookseller's ticket of Maxwell Hunley, Beverley Hills. A little rubbing of cloth, slight splits to inner hinges, contents sound and largely clean. A very good set. Line-Ettlinger-Gladstone 104. Daphne du Maurier, The Young George du Maurier, 1952.

War and Peace is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published serially, then in its entirety in 1869. It is regarded as one of Tolstoy's finest literary achievements and remains a classic of world literature. The narrative chronicles the history of the French invasion of Russia through the eyes of five Russian aristocratic families and reflects on the philosophical themes of war, peace, and the human condition.