The True History of a Little Ragamuffin, James Greenwood

£85.00

The True History of a Little Ragamuffin, James Greenwood

Name: The True History of a Little Ragamuffin, James Greenwood
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6142
Price: 85.00 GBP
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Publication: London, Ward, Lock, & Co., n.d. [c. 1880]

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [viii], 359.

Condition Report: Very Good. The volume presents exceptionally well in its original brown pictorial cloth, with the striking gilt ribbon motifs on the upper board and spine remaining remarkably bright and unoxidised. The binding is firm, square, and structurally sound, showing only minor shelf wear; this is primarily limited to gentle rubbing and softening at the spine head and tail, along with mild wear to the corners. The rear board's blind-stamped borders remain crisp and well-defined. The text block edges exhibit typical age-related toning and dust-darkening, though the page margins remain uniform. Internally, the pale yellow endpapers are intact and secure without splitting at the hinges. There is mild, scattered foxing to the preliminary leaves, most notably affecting the frontispiece and illustrated title page, but the main body of the text remains generally clean, tight, and highly legible throughout.

Catalogue Note: An attractive early edition of James Greenwood's poignant social novel, issued by Ward, Lock, & Co. While undated, the publisher's imprint at Warwick House, Salisbury Square places this printing roughly between 1878 and 1890, serving as a reissue of the 1866 original.

The text is significantly enhanced by atmospheric illustrations contributed by Hablot Knight Browne (famous as Charles Dickens's primary illustrator under the pseudonym 'Phiz') and J. Gordon Thomson, whose vignette engravings capture the grim reality of Victorian street life.

Finding 19th-century copies of this work in their original publisher's cloth is increasingly difficult, and it is particularly scarce to encounter a copy where the intricate gilt tooling has survived with such vivid brightness.

Penned by James Greenwood, the pioneering investigative journalist who famously went undercover as the 'Amateur Casual' to expose the horrific conditions of London's workhouses, The True History of a Little Ragamuffin is a gritty, sympathetic portrayal of poverty in Victorian England. The novel follows the trials and tribulations of a young street urchin navigating the unforgiving slums of London, offering readers a harrowing yet deeply human look at the marginalised children of the era. Greenwood's intimate knowledge of the city's underbelly makes this a compelling blend of social commentary and gripping narrative.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: James Greenwood

Book Publisher: Ward, Lock, & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 359

Book Publication Year:

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Phiz and J. Gordon Thomson

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.