The Soul of a Bishop, H. G. Wells — 1st Edition

£40.20

The Soul of a Bishop, H. G. Wells — 1st Edition

Name: The Soul of a Bishop, H. G. Wells — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6906
Price: 40.20 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Cassell and Company, Ltd, 1917.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 320.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original dark moss green cloth binding remains structurally sound and square, displaying strong mechanical impressions in the blind-stamped panelling and lettering to the front board. There is expected minor shelf-wear, with slight bumping to the spine ends and mild scuffing to the extremities. Internally, the hinges are tight without splitting. The text block exhibits typical paper oxidation, presenting as uniform age-toning to the page edges, though it remains free of heavy foxing. The front pastedown bears a neat, contemporaneous ink ownership signature ("Edith Archer, Sep. 1917"). A pleasing, authentic copy grounding its appeal in strong structural material evidence.

Catalogue Note: This is the first impression of the first edition, printed in September 1917. Issued without illustrations, this copy is notable for its excellent contemporaneous provenance: the front pastedown is inscribed in ink by a previous owner in September 1917, the exact month of the book's initial publication. While first editions of Wells's later social novels are generally common on the open market, locating a survivor in its original, unsophisticated cloth with publication-month provenance adds a desirable degree of historical context for collectors.

Written during the height of the First World War, The Soul of a Bishop departs from H.G. Wells's celebrated science fiction to deliver a piercing examination of faith and institutional religion in an era of global trauma. The narrative follows Edward Scrope, the Bishop of Princhester, whose growing disillusionment with the Anglican Church's response to the war culminates in a series of drug-induced spiritual visions. Compelled to confront the rigid dogmas of his past, Scrope is forced to navigate a profound crisis of conscience, offering readers a striking reflection on morality, truth, and the search for a personal God amidst the ruins of modern conflict.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: H. G. Wells

Book Publisher: Cassell and Company, Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 320

Book Publication Year: 1917

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover, Cloth

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.