ROMOLA

London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1863. 3 volumes. First edition. 8vo, in the original green textured cloth, quite rare thus, the boards paneled in blind, the spines gilt lettered and decorated. Housed in a single morocco backed slipcase within individual cloth-covered chemises, the morocco backed box decorated as a book with gilt tooled raised bands and gilt lettering. iv, 336; iv, 333, [2]; iv, 292 pp. A copy in original cloth and state, very rare as such, the text uncommonly fresh with only the most minor of occasional light spotting or mellowing, the cloth sturdy and dark green, a little expected rubbing and very minor edge wear, the gilt a bit dull, a few hinges with some cosmetic separation to the endpapers, the volumes still strong and tight. VERY RARE IN ORIGINAL CLOTH AND IN SUCH ORIGINAL STATE. WE KNOW OF NO OTHER ACCEPTABLE COPY CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH. A truly outstanding copy, very desirable, this is an exceptional survival.
Eliot's historical novel ROMOLA can be seen as a deep study of life in the city of Florence as the fictional events all take place amidst actual historical events during the Italian Renaissance, and includes in its plot several notable figures from Florentine history. Literary scholars have drawn comparisons between the setting of the novel and George Eliot's contemporary Victorian England and the psychological and religious introspection seen in Eliot's other novels is also seen in Romola.