Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist

S Y L V E S T E R S O U N D

THE

SOMNAMBULIST

BY HENRY COCKTON

THIRD EDITION

LONDON

WILLIAM MARK CLARKE

MDCCCXLIX

DESCRIPTION

(iv) + 367 + (iv)

Book measures 220mm x 145mm approximately.

Bound in contemporary half dark tan calf over marbled boards with blind-tooled fillet borders. Spine with black title label and gilt-boxed compartments with gilt border decoration. Engraved portrait frontispiece with wonderfully illustrated title page by Thomas Onwhyn and further full-page Onwhyn illustrations throughout.

CONDITION

The binding is holding very firm. Both boards exhibit some wear and scuffs, rubbing to hinges and edges, and bumping to corners. Internally the pages are generally clean although with some spotting and foxing to illustrations and verso.

A very interesting and humorous title, with excellent Onwhyn illustrations.

INTERESTING

Henry Cockton (1807 to 1853) was an English novelist. His greatest success came in 1839 writing The Life and Adventures of Valentine Vox the Ventriloquist. Published in the monthly serial format, popularised by Charles Dickens, it was an immediate success, enjoying great popularity and acclaim. Illustrations by Thomas Onwhyn were a prominent feature of this, and most of Henry Cockton's later novels. Unfortunately many of Cockton's later novels never achieved much acclaim until Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844), a comic tale about a persistent sleepwalker. A comic novel, it sold over 40,000 copies, and remaining in print until 1921. Four days after completing his last novel, Cockton died and was buried in an unmarked grave in the town churchyard of Bury St. Edmunds. There were no obituary notices. Soon after his death his widow petitioned the Royal Literary Fund for financial assistance, in a detailed account of his life and misfortunes. Never published, this makes sad reading. She received £25.