ENGLISH TRAITS

The Riverside Edition, New and Revised. 8vo, in very handsome contemporary three-quarter plum calf over handsomely marbled boards, the spine with gilt framed compartments separated by gilt-tooled raised bands, four of the compartments with very fine gilt tooling in an acorns with leaves and vines motif, two compartments morocco labels gilt ruled and lettered, additional gilt a the spine's head and tail, endpapers and page edges all attractively marbled. 296 pp. Very handsome, internally near as new, the paper extremely fresh with no foxing, signs of wear or use; the binding is very attractive, strong and firm with no cracking, the plum calf of the spine uniformly mellowed slightly to a pleasant lighter tone.

Edizione: a very nice edition of emerson's english traits. there are few people as quoted and quotable as ralph waldo emerson, founder of the transcendental movement. this text is from the fine riverside edition of emerson's works.<br> english traits is an extremely readable survey of the national characteristics, manners and cultural achievements of the english people, written by america's greatest essayist. it contains: first visit to england, voyage to england, land, race, ability, manners, truth, character, cockayne, wealth, aristocracy, universities, religion, literature, the times, stonehenge, personal, result, speech at manchester.<br> philip nicoloff, author of numerous books on emerson wrote of english traits for the harvard university press- "english traits is a searching and distinctive portrayal of english culture that today offers a revealing perspective on american viewpoints and preoccupations in the mid-nineteenth century. it is notable, too, for revealing an interesting side of emerson?s complex character; here we find emerson the practical yankee, analyzing english power, resourcefulness, determination, and materialism." a generation earlier, van wyck brooks called english traits ".the best of american travel-books and one of the great and permanent works of its kind"