Author: HARDY Thomas
Title: The Dynasts. An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon. Parts First and Second [with] Part Third. Time's Laughingstocks and other Verses. [Vols. XI, III of 'The Wessex Edition']. 'THE DYNASTS' COMPLETE IN THE WESSEX EDITION
Description: Macmillan,, [1913-1920]. 2 vols., 8vo., on laid paper, with frontispieces in photogravure toned in sepia (original tissue guards present), half-titles and titles in red and black, and double-page map in the text; original series binding of maroon cloth, backstrips blocked and lettered in gilt, uncut, an unusually bright, crisp set. With series advertisement leaf at end of each volume. Personal bookplate on front paste-down of first volume; contemporary inscription on front paste-down of second volume. Macmillan's 'Wessex Edition' (the name was suggested by Frederick Macmillan himself) was intended as the definitive issue of Hardy's works incorporating all the author's final amendments. Published in 24 volumes between 1912 and 1931, it is beautifully printed on laid paper and elegantly bound. Each volume contains a fine frontispiece in sepia photogravure depicting a 'real-life' scene from the novel (here they are 'The English Channel from Ridgeway Hill' and ' Wynyard's Gap [in A Trampwoman's Tragedy]' respectively) and a double-page 'Map of the Wessex of the Novels and Poems' made from Hardy's own drawing (now in the Dorset County Museum). 'The Wessex Edition is in every sense the definitive edition of Hardy's work and the last authority in questions of text.' (Purdy). Individual volumes are now increasingly hard to find. See Purdy, pp. 282-6.

Keywords: modern first editions, modern firsts, hardy, thomas hardy, wessex edition, wessex


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