A CHRONICLE OF THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA. From the Mss. of Fray Antonio Agapida

London: John Murray, 1829. 2 volumes. First English edition. 8vo, in the very rarely seen original printer's tan paper over paper covered boards, the spine panels with printed paper labels. xv, 407; viii, 421, [2, ads] pp. A pristine and unused set, internally very fine and fresh and very clean, the bindings sturdy and attractive with only a bit of expected age or evidence of shelving. As fine a set as one can hope to find. FIRST EDITION, THE ENGLISH ISSUE, which appeared only a few weeks after the American. In spite of the near simultaneous release, the text of this English edition does differ a bit from its American counterpart.
Despite Irving's use of an imaginary chronicler, Agapida, who’s dialog livens up the flavor of the text, the CONQUEST OF GRANADA was the product of careful historical research in Madrid. Irving was serving as a titular diplomat, a post which gave him access to considerable resources as well as access to the most important inner social circles. It remains an excellent history on the expulsion of the Moors from Spain. This work, along with his THE ALHAMBRA highlights both Irving’s scholarly abilities and his eloquent writing style.