Franklin Library: CHARLES DICKENS: OLD CURIOSITY SHOP: OXFORD UNIVERSITY DELUXE

Description: Franklin Library leather edition of Charles Dickens's "The Old Curiosity Shop," a COLLECTOR'S edition, introduced by The Earl of Wicklow, Illustrated with seventy-five illustrations by Phiz, one of the OXFORD LIBRARY OF CHARLES DICKENS series, published in 1983. Bound in scarlet red leather, the book has matching French moire silk end leaves, gold tooling around the silk end leaves, satin book marker, hubbed spine, gold gilding on three edges---in near FINE condition. Charles Dickens, who lived from 1812-1870, was born near PORTSMOUTH, England but his family moved to LONDON when he was two years old. "The Old Curiosity Shop" was originally published as a weekly serial. It was so popular that New York readers stormed the wharf when the ship bearing the final installment arrived in 1841. The plot follows the life of NELL TRENT and her grandfather, both residents of the Old Curiosity Shop in London. Nell is described as a virtuous and beautiful young girl "not quite fourteen." Nell's only friend is KIT, an honest boy employed at the shop. Nell teaches him to write. She also wants to ensure that Nell does not die in poverty as her parents had. The novel has several contemporary events that are described. In Chapter 29, Miss Monflaters refers to the death of Lord Byron, who died in April 1824. When the inquest rules---incorrectly---that Quilp committed suicide, his corpse is ordered to be buried at a crossroads with a stake through his heart; this practice was banned in 1823. Nell's grandfather, after his breakdown, fears he shall be sent to a madhouse, and there chained to the wall and whipped. This practice was also abolished. Quilp, a dwarf, sly, cunning ferocious man seizes the shop and evicts Nell and her grandfather. When Nell's grandfather suffers a breakdown, Nell takes him to the Midlands of England. Nell's wastrel older brother, Frederick, convinces the good-natured Dick Swiveller to track Nell down so that Swiveller can marry Nell and shared in the supposed inheritance with Frederick. Ultimately, Quilp is hunted down and dies trying to escape his pursuers. Other interesting characters include: The Old Sexton, an old man at the village where Little Nell and her grandfather find a home; Christopher Nubbles, a shambling, awkward, comical lad, employed by Nell's grandfather as an errand boy; Sampson Brass, a villainous attorney and Quilp's legal advisor; Richard Swiveller, an easy, careless, somwhat dissipated young man and a clerk to Sampson Brass; Mr. Marton an old schoolmaster who befriends Little Nell; Mr. Whitherden, a brisk and pompous notary; Frederick Trent, brother to Little Nell; Isaac List, a gambler and knave; and scores of other minor characters. The novel does not end happily. Queen Victoria read the novel and found it "very interesting and cleverly written." 629 pages---a RARE title. I offer Combined shipping.

Price: 99.95 USD

Location: Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

End Time: 2024-11-24T17:30:17.000Z

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