Little Dorrit. by DICKENS, Charles - 1857: With illustrations by H. K. Browne.

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1857. First edition, bound from the original monthly parts, as published from December 1855 to June 1857.
Peter Ackroyd declares the novel to be the author's "single most ferocious onslaught against England and English society; against its government, against its financiers, against its artists, and even against its ordinary citizens... He had of course made attacks of such a kind before but they had always been directed against specific abuses and, in Oliver Twist for example, the powers of money and benevolence together could at least rescue the doomed orphan child. In Little Dorrit, money itself is seen to be a faithless and corrupt delusion" (Ackroyd, Dickens, p. 758). Octavo (210 x 132 mm). Early 20th century dark green half morocco for Sotheran's (stamp to front free endpaper), marbled cloth sides ruled in gilt, spine lettered in gilt, bands tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers and edges. Engraved frontispiece and vignette title page, 38 plates (8 of which are "dark plates"), by H. K. Browne (Phiz). Ink ownership signature dated 1911 to initial binder's blank, stamp celebrating 100 years since Dickens's birth pasted to front free endpaper. A little rubbing to rear cover and extremities, short superficial split to rear hinge ends, light foxing to plates as usual, largely limited to margins, contents bright and clean. An excellent copy. Hatton & Cleaver pp. 307-30; Smith I.12. Peter Ackroyd, Dickens, Sinclair-Stevenson, 1990.