Dorothy Wordsworth, Robert Gittings and Jo Manton — 1st Edition

£70.00

Dorothy Wordsworth, Robert Gittings and Jo Manton — 1st Edition

Name: Dorothy Wordsworth, Robert Gittings and Jo Manton — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6419
Price: 70.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1985

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 318.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The original blue cloth boards remain remarkably clean with sharp, unbumped corners and bright gilt lettering to the spine. The binding is firm and square, presenting a tight, robust text block that shows no signs of being over-opened. Internally, the pages are crisp and bright, free from foxing, with only the faintest hint of natural age-toning to the extreme text block edges. The original dust jacket is beautifully preserved; it remains entirely unclipped (retaining the original UK price), with bright, unfaded panels and no significant chipping, rubbing, or edge-creasing.

Catalogue Note: First edition. A highly regarded biographical portrait of Dorothy Wordsworth, offering a perceptive re-evaluation of her life and literary contributions beyond her traditional framing as a mere adjunct to her brother William.

This particular copy is notably distinguished by the genuine ink signatures of both authors, Robert Gittings and Jo Manton, flat-signed directly to the title page. Gittings and Manton were a husband-and-wife biographical team renowned for their collaborative scholarship on figures like John Keats and Thomas Hardy.

While standard, unsigned first editions of this title are widely available, dual-signed copies remain quite uncommon on the open market, making this a highly desirable acquisition for collectors of Romantic-era literature and biographical history.

Critics and biographers have historically relegated Dorothy Wordsworth to the periphery of her brother William's life, or treated her merely as a secondary figure to their mutual friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In this acclaimed biography, Robert Gittings and Jo Manton draw upon her famous journals, letters, and previously unpublished materials to illuminate Dorothy's distinct intellect, acute observational prowess, and profound influence on the Romantic movement. The authors trace her journey from early girlhood through the complexities of her intimate relationships and her later physical decline, bringing her vividly to the forefront as a woman of extraordinary devotion, deep contradictions, and hidden depths.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Robert Gittings and Jo Manton

Book Publisher: Clarendon Press

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: Yes

Book Pages: 326

Book Publication Year: 1985

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Oxford, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.