Life's Little Ironies, Thomas Hardy — 3rd Edition

£47.50

Life's Little Ironies, Thomas Hardy — 3rd Edition

Name: Life's Little Ironies, Thomas Hardy — 3rd Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6058
Price: 47.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., 1894

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 301, [1].

Condition Report: Good. The publisher's original ribbed green cloth binding remains structurally sound but exhibits moderate wear typical with its age and readership. The extremities show noticeable rubbing, particularly with fraying at the head and tail of the spine and wear along the board edges. The cloth boards display some mild mottling and surface handling marks, though the distinctive blind-stamped floral tooling and gilt lettering on the spine and front board remain fully legible and reasonably bright. The binding is firm and the hinges hold well. The untrimmed text block edges display expected age-toning and dust-darkening. Internally, the pages are largely clean and free of major blemishes, though typical mild age-toning and occasional isolated spots of foxing are present throughout. A solid, unsophisticated copy.

Catalogue Note: This is the third edition of Thomas Hardy's collection of short stories. The volume is bound in the publisher's original olive-green cloth, featuring the classic blind-stamped panelled design.

Published during a peak of Hardy’s literary prominence, this collection brings together tales that had previously appeared in various periodicals.

While the true first edition commands a significant collector's premium, early subsequent printings in the original binding offer an authentic Victorian presentation of the text and remain desirable on the open market.

First published in 1894, Life's Little Ironies is a compelling collection of Thomas Hardy's short fiction, showcasing his masterful grasp of tragicomedy and the cruel twists of fate that govern human existence. The volume contains several of his most celebrated tales, including "The Son's Veto" and "On the Western Circuit," alongside a sequence of colloquial sketches titled "A Few Crusted Characters." Set against the richly evoked backdrop of Wessex, these stories explore the social constraints, misplaced ambitions, and quiet tragedies of rural life, delivered with Hardy's signature blend of deep empathy and profound pessimism.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Thomas Hardy

Book Publisher: Osgood, McIlvaine and Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: Third Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 301

Book Publication Year: 1894

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, 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.