The Romance of the Forest. Interspersed with Some Pieces of Poetry

Exeter, New Hampshire: J. & B. Williams, 1834. Early American edition of Ann Radcliffe’s popular Gothic romance, first published in England in 1791. The Romance of the Forest includes a number of Radcliffe’s characteristic tropes: an imperiled heroine on the run, a haunted abbey, a sublime and forbidding natural landscape. “It seems as if we were walking over the ruins of the world, and were the only persons who had survived the wreck.” A very good example, in an attractive contemporary American binding. Two 32mo volumes, measuring 5 x 2.75 inches: [3], 4-186; [3], 4-184. Contemporary full sheep, spines lettered and decorated in gilt. Volume I lacking front blank, with loss to head of final blank; pencil drawings to final blank of Volume I and front pastedown of Volume II. Scattered foxing, expert reinforcement to joints. (Inventory #: 1004017)