The Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit

Chapman and Hall, London, 1868 ; 8vo; blank; flyleaf; frontispiece; i-vi; 1-522; 4 pg. postscript; vii; flyleaf; blank; half calf boards; pebbled cloth; raised bands; gilt spine decorations; gilt rules; black morocco spine labels; gilt titles; marbled end papers; marbled page edges; illustrated. No printed publication date, but circa 1868, with preface by Dickens in which he deflects criticism received from America regarding his satirical characterizations and social commentary incorporated into "Chuzzlewit" to reflect the various coarse aspects of American life he encountered during his first trip to America in 1842. "As I had never, when writing fiction, had any disposition to soften what is ridiculous or wrong at home, so I then hoped the good humored people of The United States would not be generally disposed to quarrel with me for carrying the same usage abroad." Dickens returned to the United States in 1867 amid restored popularity, and in a speech delivered at the NY Press Association he expressed regret for past misunderstandings and reaffirmed his deep affection and admiration for the people and nation of America, vowing to insert this testimonial in the form of an appendix into every edition of "Chuzzlewit" to be published thenceforth. It appears here in a four page postscript at the end of the book, dated May, 1868. Illustrated with eight plates by Phiz, on heavy stock. In a publisher’s binding error, page vii of the preface is bound in after the last page of the postscript, at the end of the volume. Printed at Virtue & Co., City Road, London. Very Good Plus. Minor external wear, short upper right diagonal corner crease on six various leaves of text. Clean, crisp, binding tight, sound, and square, all gilt and marbling bright, no tanning or foxing, no ownership signatures. A handsome copy.