The French Revolution: A History (2 Volumes)

Edmund J. Sullivan, Thomas Carlyle

London

:

Chapman and Hall

,

1910

.
First Edition. Signed by Illustrator

28.5cm x 19cm. xiv, 418, xi, 484 pages, 2 volumes, 33 black and white plates, black and white illustrations in the text. Quarter vellum, pale blue cloth, gilt lettering, rules and decoration, top edge gilt, other edges uncut, no jackets.

Presented in sections titled The Bastille, The Constitution, and The Guillotine, this book covers the period from 1789 to 1795. First published in 1837, it established Carlyle’s reputation as an important writer and thinker, while at the same time drawing much criticism. It was highly regarded by writers such as Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde, but unusual within historical writing in that it was written in the first person plural, and in the present tense. The 33 plates and 124 text illustrations were created by British illustrator Edmund J. Sullivan, who followed the tradition of English illustration and also incorporated elements of Art Nouveau design. His career began in magazine illustration, but he went on to produce illustrations for many books including others by Carlyle. This is the large paper edition and the first with Sullivan’s illustrations, produced in an edition of 150 copies signed and numbered by Sullivan, of which this is number 109.

Foxing to vellum. Very minor soiling to cloth. Very minor bumps to tail fore-edge corners and crown of boards. Tanning to endpapers. Minor closed tear to the gutter of the front free endpaper of volume 1. Foxing to tail and fore-edges, a few spots to pages. Very Good Condition.