DICKENS | Forster, John. The Life of Charles Dickens, 1872-1874, first edition

[DICKENS, CHARLES] - FORSTER, JOHN

The Life of Charles Dickens. London: Chapman and Hall, 1872-1874

8vo (206 x 134mm.), 3 volumes, FIRST EDITION, portrait frontispiece to each volume and other illustrations in text, half-titles, contemporary full dark green polished calf, covers with decorative border in gilt, spines lettered in gilt with coloured calf onlaid labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, minimal fraying to head of spine

A FINE COPY. John Forster was one of Dickens' losest friends, and acted as advisor, editor, proofreader, agent and marketing manager. Forster was Dickens' literary executor, and was left the manuscripts of many of the novels, which he in turn left (along with the rest of his magnificent library) to the South Kensington Museum (later the Victoria and Albert Museum). He was ideally placed to write a biography of Dickens, having known him since the 1830s, and having been involved in many private matters such as Dickens' separation from his wife and was god-father to his daughter Mary.

PROVENANCE:

Arthur William Vaisey, book labels