Author: The Countess of Blessington [Marguerite Gardiner]
Title: Strathern; or a Life at Home and Abroad. A Story of the Present Day.
Description: London, Henry Colburn, 1845. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of the Countess of Blessington's very scarce mid nineteenth century novel, in the publisher's original boards. The vanishingly scarce first edition of this four volume novel from Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington, initially serialised in the Sunday Times.A novel of high fashion and society set in contemporary Rome, and with certain characters derived from those with whom the author associated, notably Bulwer Lytton, who is maliciously portrayed as the simpering 'Webworth', a name derived from his estate at Knebworth.With a portrait  frontispiece to volume I, two pages of advertisements to the rear of volume III, and four pages of advertisements to the rear of volume IV.Loeber and Rolf, 'A Guide to Irish Fiction, 1650-1900', B187; Sadlier, 'XIX Century Fiction', 248. With the armorial bookplate of Hannah Isabella Mande to the front pastedown of each volume.The Countess of Blessington, a known acquaintance of Lord Byron, was exceedingly beautiful and an accomplished hostess who shrugged off any attempt at conventional respectability.The rumours surrounding the relationship between her, her husband the Earl of Blessington, and Count Alfred d'Orsay was memorably treated by Michael Sadleir in his 1937 study 'Blessington d'Orsay: A Masquerade', and the biography 'The Strange Life of Lady Blessington&apos. In the publisher's original cloth backed paper covered boards. Bumping to spine heads and tails, with light discolouration to back strips. Perimeters of paper spine labels lightly chipped, with labels age toned. Front hinge of volume I, and front and rear hinge of volume II starting, with boards holding firm. Armorial bookplate to front pastedowns. Internally, firmly bound. Spotting to volume I frontispiece and title page, with pages otherwise generally clean and bright. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .

Keywords: bulwer lytton Alfred d'Orsay byron lady blessington Alfred d'Orsay hannah Isabella Mande Not Stated


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