THE ENGLISH COMEDIE HUMAINE

Twelve volumes bound in ten. First edition. Limited to only 135 sets. Each volume with a very fine engraved frontispiece portrait from various sources contemporary to the authors and with handsome colour decorated title pages in an Arts & Crafts Movement style, throughout the set are 46 fine engraved plates by various authors with captioned tissue-guards, including Charles Brock's 8 plates to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and Cruikshank's 4 plates to HUMPHREY CLINKER. The plates and decorated titlepages are printed on a fine heavy stock reminiscent of parchment. Large 8vo, publisher's Deluxe bindings of three-quarter green/brown morocco, lettered and decorated in gilt on the spines between raised bands, softly marbled endpapers, a.e.g. A lovely set, with spines lightly mellowed as would be usual, very minimal evidence of age, signatures unopened, internally as pristine.

Edizione: includes works from the spectator, pamela, joseph andrews, pride and prejudice, humphry clinker, the caxtons, coningsey, jane eyre, it is never too late to mend, and the barchester towers. this comedie humaine selection is based on the one by balzac. from english literature, works were selected as a group of masterpieces in the study of character and manners. various writers and periods are represented and thus, the writings make not only a collection of the best work in english literature, but as well, an instructive historical survey of successive periods of english social life.