Rasselas: A Tale by Dr. Johnson [and] Dinarbas: A Tale Being a Continuation of Rasselas
by Samuel Johnson; [Ellis Cornelia Knight]
- Used
- good
- Condition
- Good
- Seller
-
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: C. and J. Rivington [et al.], 1823. Good. London: C. and J. Rivington [et al.], 1823. 12mo; 266pp. Two full-page engravings, one for each of the tales.
Original printed publisher's boards with paper spine label and advertising list on back. Textblock untrimmed, but all pages opened. About 2/3 of spine label in place, the bared crown and foot of the sewn gatherings were coated, probably early in the volume's life, with a glossy solidifying glue. Very mild foxing throughout.
Dr. Johnson's famous tale inspired several sequels. Ellis Cornelia Knight (1757-1837) moved among the British great and good throughout her life, and published her Dinarbas anonymously in 1790 when she and her mother faced genteel impoverishment in Italy. She would eventually return to England in the company of Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson-high-minded Miss Knight was somewhat alarmed at their amours-and later became a Companion to Princess Charlotte.
Dinarbas was a success in its day. The title character is the warrior son of a castellan in whose fortress Rasselas's party takes shelter at the start of Knight's sequel. By the end of the tale, after adventures both military and sentimental, he receives the ultimate in praise from Rasselas: "To thee, Dinarbas, we owe the tranquillity of the empire; and in thy friendship I have found more than a recompense for all my searches after happiness." One can just imagine the harrumphing of Dr. Johnson.
Original printed publisher's boards with paper spine label and advertising list on back. Textblock untrimmed, but all pages opened. About 2/3 of spine label in place, the bared crown and foot of the sewn gatherings were coated, probably early in the volume's life, with a glossy solidifying glue. Very mild foxing throughout.
Dr. Johnson's famous tale inspired several sequels. Ellis Cornelia Knight (1757-1837) moved among the British great and good throughout her life, and published her Dinarbas anonymously in 1790 when she and her mother faced genteel impoverishment in Italy. She would eventually return to England in the company of Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson-high-minded Miss Knight was somewhat alarmed at their amours-and later became a Companion to Princess Charlotte.
Dinarbas was a success in its day. The title character is the warrior son of a castellan in whose fortress Rasselas's party takes shelter at the start of Knight's sequel. By the end of the tale, after adventures both military and sentimental, he receives the ultimate in praise from Rasselas: "To thee, Dinarbas, we owe the tranquillity of the empire; and in thy friendship I have found more than a recompense for all my searches after happiness." One can just imagine the harrumphing of Dr. Johnson.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Capitol Hill Books, ABAA (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 6742
- Title
- Rasselas: A Tale by Dr. Johnson [and] Dinarbas: A Tale Being a Continuation of Rasselas
- Author
- Samuel Johnson; [Ellis Cornelia Knight]
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- C. and J. Rivington [et al.]
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1823
Terms of Sale
Capitol Hill Books, ABAA
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Capitol Hill Books, ABAA
Biblio member since 2019
Washington, District of Columbia
About Capitol Hill Books, ABAA
Capitol Hill Books is a used bookstore in the Eastern Market neighborhood of Washington, DC. We have three floors of quality used books, first editions, and rare books.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Spine Label
- The paper or leather descriptive tag attached to the spine of the book, most commonly providing the title and author of the...
- Gatherings
- A term used in bookbinding, where a gathering of sheets is folded at the middle, then bound into the binding together. The...