The Private Life of Henry Maitland, Morley Roberts — 1st Edition

£149.50

The Private Life of Henry Maitland, Morley Roberts — 1st Edition

Name: The Private Life of Henry Maitland, Morley Roberts — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5820
Price: 149.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Eveleigh Nash, 1912

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 316.

Condition Report: Very Good. The grading is justified by the structurally sound and tight maroon cloth binding, which retains its integrity despite minor bumping to the extremities and a slight dulling of the spine lettering. Internally, the text block is securely bound, though the grade accounts for the moderate foxing present across the preliminary pages, title page, and the untrimmed fore-edge. The exceptionally scarce original dust wrapper is also graded Very Good; it remains remarkably intact and unclipped (priced 6/- on the spine), with its condition defined by general age-toning and surface dust-soiling, yet standing notably free of the significant chipping or tearing typical of fragile Edwardian jackets.

Catalogue Note: First edition of Morley Roberts's thinly veiled biography of his close friend and fellow novelist, George Gissing. Written under the guise of fiction, the book uses pseudonyms, with Gissing appearing as "Henry Maitland" and Roberts himself as the narrator "J.H.," offering an intimate and highly controversial portrait of Gissing's difficult life.

The presence of the original 1912 dust wrapper makes this copy exceptionally rare on the open market. Additionally, the title page bears a neat, contemporary pencil annotation correctly identifying the true subject ("George Gissing = H.M."), adding a factual touch of provenance that highlights the book's roman à clef nature.

A fascinating and controversial literary artefact, The Private Life of Henry Maitland is a thinly disguised biography of the Victorian novelist George Gissing, penned by his closest friend, Morley Roberts. Blurring the lines between fiction and memoir, the book offers a brutally honest, sometimes scandalous, and deeply tragic account of a brilliant writer doomed by poverty, ill-fated marriages, and social isolation. Essential for Gissing scholars and collectors of Edwardian literary history, this record stands as one of the most uniquely personal biographical portraits of its era.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Morley Roberts

Book Publisher: Eveleigh Nash

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 316

Book Publication Year: 1912

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.