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Giustina: A Spanish Tale of Real Life

Giustina: A Spanish Tale of Real Life

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Giustina: A Spanish Tale of Real Life

by [Law, Elizabeth Susan] E.S.L

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About This Item

[London]: Not Published [Printed by I Botson and Palmer], 1833. First edition. Recent marbled wraps tied at spine. All edges gilt. Bookplate of J.O. Edwards to verso of front wrap. Ownership stamp of Lady Ulrica Thynne (d. 1916) to front endpaper. A Near Fine copy, with a bit of light scattered foxing throughout. Measuring 180 x 110mm and collating complete including half and full titles: [6], 63, [1, blank]. A scarce work in translation which was only distributed among friends and family, OCLC reports copies of Giustina at only 6 libraries. The present is the only example on the market.

A narrative poem in three cantos, Giustina is a romance set in Spain but clearly commenting on the hypocrisy of patriarchy and the English marriage economy. Driven by "that deep confiding trust which flows from the chaste Fondness only woman knows," Giustina chooses Alonzo as her mate. She is, after all, pure of heart and shaped by the advice that a woman should not be mercenary. The great tragedy for Giustina and Alonzo, however, is that economic concerns do enter into marriage. Despite returning Giustina's love, "He could not brook that she whose heart he won Should stoop to poverty--by love undone!" Alonzo, aware of Giustina's economic precarity if they wed -- cut off from by her father, dependent on his scant earnings -- is the realist. A long separation, unhappiness and ill health (linked to the realization that his line will end with Giustina's death) lead her father to agree to the couple's marriage and to allowing his daughter's dowry and inheritance. But alas -- upon the reunion Alonzo too has suffered such poor health that he survives only through their wedding day. The financially driven marriage system has created a young widow and ended the line of inheritance for her family, committing her instead to the care of her aging father.

Jackson 195.4. Bibliographic Catalogue of Privately Printed Books 445.

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Details

Bookseller
Whitmore Rare Books US (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #
4810
Title
Giustina: A Spanish Tale of Real Life
Author
[Law, Elizabeth Susan] E.S.L
Book Condition
Used
Quantity Available
1
Edition
First edition
Publisher
Not Published [Printed by I Botson and Palmer]
Place of Publication
[London]
Date Published
1833
Weight
0.00 lbs

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About the Seller

Whitmore Rare Books

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2009
Pasadena, California

About Whitmore Rare Books

We operate a retail shop in "Old Town" Pasadena open normal business hours Tuesday through Saturday.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Verso
The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
First Edition
In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Spine
The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Bookplate
Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...
Edges
The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
Poor
A book with significant wear and faults. A poor condition book is still a reading copy with the full text still readable. Any...
Fine
A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...

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