The Life of Charlotte Brontë, E. C. Gaskell — 4th Edition

£80.00

The Life of Charlotte Brontë, E. C. Gaskell — 4th Edition

Name: The Life of Charlotte Brontë, E. C. Gaskell — 4th Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5213
Price: 80.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Smith, Elder and Co., 1858

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xi, 486.

Condition Report: Good. The original dark green publisher’s cloth is largely intact, though exhibiting standard signs of age, including moderate bumping to the corners and rubbing along the joints, alongside minor fraying at the spine’s head and tail. The blind-stamped boards remain structurally sound and the gilt lettering to the spine is somewhat dulled but perfectly legible. Internally, the front free endpaper is notably absent, slightly straining the front inner hinge, though the text block itself remains cohesive. The pages display scattered, light foxing, most prominent around the frontispiece and title page due to natural offsetting from the tissue guard, with general, mild age-toning throughout. Despite the missing preliminary leaf and external wear, it remains a resilient, readable example.

Catalogue Note: This 1858 printing represents the Fourth Edition of Elizabeth Gaskell's seminal biography of her close friend, Charlotte Brontë. Crucially, this edition marks the first time the work was condensed and issued as a single, accessible volume, following the controversial two-volume first edition published the year prior.

The volume is beautifully illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Brontë (retaining its original tissue guard) and a finely detailed vignette of Haworth Parsonage adorning the title page. A factual, contemporary ownership signature, reading "Marg't O. Johnson," is present on the half-title page.

While Gaskell's landmark biography was a commercial success and went through numerous Victorian reprints, encountering this specific first single-volume edition in its original publisher's cloth without modern restoration is increasingly uncommon on the open market.

Written at the behest of Patrick Brontë following his daughter's tragic and untimely passing, Elizabeth Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Brontë stands as one of the most celebrated and pioneering literary biographies of the nineteenth century. Gaskell, an esteemed novelist in her own right, offers a profoundly empathetic and intimate portrait of Charlotte, meticulously charting her bleak but intensely creative upbringing, her fiercely guarded privacy, and her extraordinary ascent to global literary stardom with the publication of Jane Eyre. Drawing upon personal correspondence and first-hand accounts, Gaskell cemented the enduring mythos of the Brontë sisters and the rugged, romantic isolation of the Haworth Parsonage for all subsequent generations.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: E. C. Gaskell

Book Publisher: Smith, Elder and Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 486

Book Publication Year: 1858

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.