The Uncommercial Traveller.

DICKENS, Charles.

$1,250.00

Item Number: 135109

London: Chapman and Hall, 1861.

First edition in book form of Dickens’ classic collection of personal vignettes. Octavo, bound in full polished calf by Tout, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, ribbon bound in, all edges gilt. In near fine condition, bookplate to the pastedown. An attractive example.

The literary sketches contained in The Uncommercial Traveller first appeared in serial form in Dickens' journal All the Year Round. The persona of the 'uncommerical traveller' echoed Dickens' personal sentiments as a writer who liked to travel, not only as a tourist, but also to research and report what he found visiting Europe, American, and cities and towns throughout Great Britain. Dickens did not seem content to rest late in his career when he had attained wealth and comfort and continued travelling locally, walking the streets of London in the mould of the flâneur, a "gentleman stroller of city streets". He often suffered from insomnia and his night-time wanderings gave him an insight into some of the hidden aspects of Victorian London, details of which he also incorporated into his novels.