The Life of Charles Dickens, Thomas Wright — 1st Edition

£42.50

The Life of Charles Dickens, Thomas Wright — 1st Edition

Name: The Life of Charles Dickens, Thomas Wright — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5670
Price: 42.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Herbert Jenkins Limited, 1935.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 392.

Condition Report: Good. The original blue cloth binding remains fundamentally sound but exhibits the general handling and shelf-wear expected of an interwar volume. The spine is slightly sunned with light rubbing and minor fraying at the head and tail, while the boards show faint scuffing, mildly bumped corners, and a small, dark blemish to the lower front panel. The blind-stamped publisher's emblem on the rear board remains crisp. The text block is reasonably square, though the external page edges are noticeably toned and peppered with foxing. Internally, the pages are generally clean and legible, with scattered foxing predominantly affecting the preliminary and final leaves. The front free endpaper bears a neat, contemporary previous ownership signature in blue ink dated May 1939. Overall, a solid, completely readable copy of this important biographical work.

Catalogue Note: This is a first edition, first printing of Thomas Wright's pivotal biography, complete with its original photographic plates and illustrations. The book holds particular significance in the history of Dickensian scholarship, as it was the very first major biography to publicly reveal the author's carefully concealed affair with the young actress Ellen Lawless Ternan, an assertion that rocked the literary establishment of the 1930s. The front free endpaper bears the factual ownership signature of G. E. J. Granville Garley, dated shortly after publication.

While copies of this biography occasionally appear on the open market, first editions retaining their original un-restored cloth bindings, and free from severe structural faults, are becoming increasingly uncommon.

In 1935, Thomas Wright forever altered the landscape of literary history with the publication of The Life of Charles Dickens. Until its release, the accepted narrative of the beloved Victorian author’s personal life had been carefully curated and sanitised by his family and early biographers. Wright’s groundbreaking work shattered this veneer by revealing Dickens's complex and ultimately devastating affair with the actress Ellen Lawless Ternan, an open secret that fundamentally shifted the world's understanding of the novelist's later years. Filled with intimate details and extensive contemporary research, this biography remains a vital, foundational text for anyone seeking the truth behind the public persona of Britain's most celebrated storyteller.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Thomas Wright

Book Publisher: Herbert Jenkins Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 392

Book Publication Year: 1935

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.