Henry Kingsley's novel "Stretton" is a work of fiction by an English novelist who was the younger brother of the more famous Charles Kingsley. Henry Kingsley (1830-1876) was known for his early brilliance, though many of his twenty novels were not well-received. He attended King's College School and Worcester College, Oxford, but left without graduating, later spending time in the Australian goldfields before returning to England to write.
The book's content, typical of Kingsley's work, is likely a Victorian romance, characterized by a naturalistic style often spiced with melodramatic incidents and moralistic characterizations. Kingsley's novels sometimes featured settings from his own life, such as Devon and Chelsea. While his most acclaimed works are generally considered to be "The Recollections of Geoffrey Hamlyn" (1859), which gained significant attention in Australia, and "Ravenshoe" (1862), which critics often cite as his best, "Stretton" contributes to his body of work as a Victorian romancer.
For a collector, "Stretton" offers insight into the broader literary landscape of the Victorian era and the career of an author who, despite living in the shadow of his more successful brother, produced a substantial number of novels. Henry Kingsley's work, including "Stretton," provides examples of the popular fiction of the time, which often explored themes of social and moral issues. Collecting such a work allows for a deeper understanding of the diverse literary output of the 19th century and the evolution of the novel form.
The quarter-leather binding shows significant rubbing, scuffing, and edgewear. Bumped corners. The spine has a library marking. The hinges and joints are tight. The text block and pages are in good shape, exhibiting dampstaining, some spotting, moderate toning, and wormholes. The endpapers are fair, with a bookplate, dampstaining. There is an exlibris/library stamp on the front pasteboard. No date printed, c1897.
Hardcover. No dust jacket. Bound in quarter leather. This is an ex-library book with typical markings such as card slots, stamps, decimal numbers, etc. This is an antiquarian book that has had a long and illustrious journey through time. Please take a look at the pictures to ascertain the condition of this item.
Page Count: 394
Location: LIB #041