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JEFFERIES, RICHARD: : HODGE AND HIS MASTERS

UK.STROUD,GLOUCESTERSHIRE.ALAN SUTTON PUBLISHING LTD.1992.

ISBN 075090142X.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn thus.[Originally and firstly a 2-volume edn,London,Smith,Elder,& Co.,1880.This new edition is illustrated with b/w contemporary photographs and has a new introduction by Angela Richardson,with the typo error in the introduction.This edn also uses the b/w decorations from the cover designs on/of the first bound edition of 1880 to the title page and the chapter headings pages.] NFINE/NFINE. No owner inscrptn,but a small and unused brown+ cream illustrated Ex Libris bookplate by John Sutcliffe for The National Trust,pasted to top,right-hand corner of front free endpaper,and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean, glossy,2 monchrome montaged portrait photographs to front panel of dw/dj with white lettering, similarly coloured white-lettered spine/ backstrip,rear panel plain without illustration or text,other than its barcode.Negligible shelf-wear, bumping,creasing to edges and corners - no nicks,tears or splits present - miniscule pushing at head of spine/backstrip with reciprocaal creasing.Top edges with faint minimal dust-flecks but still bright,fore-edges with a pair of small smudges (thumbing?) but remainder of same is still bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips - appears unread,other than my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp, unblemished,sharp-cornered,original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked bronze gilt lettered spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers - bookplate excepted.UK, 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn thus,viii-xvpp+2-238pp [paginated] includes an introduction with contemporary b/w photographs and b/w illustration reproduction of portrait of Richard Jefferies,a Preface to the Original edition,I-XXVIII (1-28) chapters each with a b/w headpiece illustration,34pp contemporary biographical photographs interspersed throughout the text and the book; plus [unpaginated] half-title with farm labourer's b/w portrait to its reverse, title page with thumbnail b/w illustration, contents list/table with acknowledgements to its reverse . Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional,and even internally,the book is in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of it's 31-year age.It is only the minor exterior faults described that prevents a slightly higher grading overall. Despite them,it really is an exceptional copy for its cleanliness and brightness. 'Hodge and his Master' is a collection of essays which appeared originally as a series of journal pieces with a running theme,first published together as a two volume edition under this title in 1880.Richard Jefferies described the plight of 'Hodge',a contemporary nick-name for the agricultural labourer,and his relationship to those who set the conditions that controlled his life: the farmers,the squire,the clergy and the guardians of the workhouse.Using his firsthand knowledge of the country and farming people he produced a series of vivid fictional characters as the vehicles for his story. Although the book has often been classified as a novel,indeed Jefferies may himself have regarded it as such,it does not have the traditional structure of one,lacking a real plot or a strong feeling of continuity through the chapters.What 'Hodge and his Masters' does very successfully is paint,in a succession of graphic portraits,the men and women that made up the farming community of a century ago (then 1992). Jefferies writes with such passion and his descriptions are so vivid that we have no difficulty in identifying with his characters and their concerns.  Richard Jefferies [1848-87] was one of the great English country writers.Brought up on a small farm in Coate near Swindon,Wiltshire in the late 19thC,he wrote on a variety of rural themes: natural history,rural politics and country yraditions.He also wrote some novels that drew heavily on his knowledge of the countryside. His writing,sometimes controversial,highlighted the agricultural labour problems of the day which were the culmination of years of exploitation of the farm labourer made even worse by an agricultural depresssion. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!  ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE.  ** N.B. Buyers in EU countries may be required to pay Import VAT and a handling fee to the courier/mail service on items costing more than 150 Euros (including shipping costs).For items less than 150 Euros to EU buyers,charges may be minimised by opting to pay myself direct,via my account at Paypal. Please contact seller prior to ordering for more information.  ** N.B. 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UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn thus.
Not SIGNED.

JEFFERIES, Richard (Edited Henry WILLIAMSON) : Hodge and His Masters

Faber & Faber, 1946

First Thus. A fine copy in a near fine/vg++ d.w., small hole centre front flapfold, short closed tears at hinge ends.

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