The Ingoldsby Legends

O X F O R D E D I T I O N

THE

INGOLDSBY LEGENDS

OR

MIRTH AND MARVELS

BY

THOMAS INGOLDSBY, ESQUIRE

London

HENRY FROWDE

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

1905

DESCRIPTION

(ii) + 527 + (ii)

Book measures 200mm x 140mm approximately.

Bound in half vellum over marble light brown gilt-ruled patterned boards. Spine with "arts & crafts" style glit and maroon floral and classical motifs with tan title label. Marbled end-papers and paste-downs, and top page edges in gilt. Engraved portrait frontispiece and some further illustrations throughout.

CONDITION

The binding is in very good condition and holding very firm. Boards and spine exhibit a few minor scuffs and occasional surface scratches with some discolouration to spine. Internally the pages are very clean throughout with just a hint of marginal toning. Large prize label to front marbled end-paper.

A very nice copy indeed.

INTERESTING

Richard Harris Barham (1788 to 1845) was an English cleric and a novelist and poet. He was known generally by his pseudonym Thomas Ingoldsby and as the author of The Ingoldsby Legends. Richard Harris Barham was born in Canterbury. When he was seven years old his father died, leaving him a small estate, mentioned frequently in his later work. At nine he was sent to St Paul's School, but his studies were interrupted by an accident that partly crippled his arm for life. Deprived of vigorous bodily activity, he became a great reader and diligent student.

During 1807 he entered Brasenose College, Oxford, intending at first to study for the law, but deciding on a clerical career instead. In 1813 he was ordained and found a country curacy.

The legends were first printed during 1837 as a regular series in the magazine Bentley's Miscellany and later in New Monthly Magazine. They proved immensely popular and were compiled into books published in 1840, 1842 and 1847 by Richard Bentley. They remained popular during the 19th century, when they ran through many editions. They were illustrated by artists including John Leech, George Cruikshank, John Tenniel, and Arthur Rackham (1898 edition).

As a priest of the Chapel Royal, with a private income, Barham was not troubled with strenuous duties and he had ample time to read and compose stories. Although based on real legends and mythology, chiefly Kentish, such as the "hand of glory", they are mostly deliberately humorous parodies or pastiches of medieval folklore and poetry.