The Works of Frank E. Smedley. [Lewis Arundel, Frank Fairlegh, Harry Coverdale’s Courtship, The Colville Family]

SMEDLEY, Francis Edward [Frank].

$1,250.00

Item Number: 110526

London: George Routledge and Sons, c. 1888.

Rare finely bound set of the complete novels of Francis Edward Smedley. Octavo, 4 volumes bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine in four compartments within raised gilt bands, red and green morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers and all edges marbled. In near fine condition.

Smedley contributed his first book, Scenes from the Life of a Private Pupil, anonymously to Sharpe's London Magazine in 1846-1848. His first essay proved so successful that it was expanded into Frank Fairlegh, and published in book-form in 1850. His next book Lewis Arundel or The Railroad of Life was originally contributed to the same magazine, which he for some time edited, and was published in book-form in 1852. Of his other writings the best-known is Harry Coverdale's Courtship (1855). These stories are racily told. It is likely that either Hablot Knight Browne ("Phiz") or George Cruikshank supplied illustrations for most of his books.