Field, Pen Photographs of Charles Dickens's Readings, 1868, inscribed and corrected by the author

FIELD, [MARY KATHERINE KEMBLE] ("KATE")

Pen Photographs of Charles Dickens's Readings. Taken from Life. Boston: Loring, 1868

8vo (230 x 149mm.), "new and enlarged edition", PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("For H. | With the regards of | K.F. | Newport. Aug 28. 1868") on upper wrapper TOGETHER WITH THE AUTHOR'S CORRECTIONS ON TWENTY PAGES, 4pp. publisher's advertisements at end, integral blank at end, original printed wrappers, some browning, title-page becoming loose, embossed library stamps and other markings, wrappers worn with tears and minor loss, new spine

Kate Field (1838-96) was a writer, journalist, actress and lecturer. Dickens wrote to her on 3 January 1868 stating "...I must avow that nothing in the pretty basket of flowers was quite so interesting to me as a certain bright fresh face I have seen at my Readings, which I am told you may see to when you look in the glass..." (Letters Vol. XII, Oxford, 2002, p. 1). The present volume was based on her newspaper reports of Dickens's readings.

PROVENANCE:

"H.", authorial inscription; Boston Public Library, stamps