Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart.

Boston; Philadelphia: Ostis, Broaders and Company; Carey, Lea and Blanchard, 1837-1838. Cloth. Good Only. 7.5" by 4.5". None. An early American edition of Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. by J. G. Lockhart. With a portrait of Scott to frontispiece to first volume, engraved by R. W. Dodson from the paintings by Sir H. Raeburn, 1808. In seven volumes. John Gibson Lockhart (1794 - 1854) was a Scottish writer and editor. He is best known as the author of the biography of Sir Walter Scott. This biography has been called by some the second most admirable in the English language, after Boswell's Life of Johnson. This major work was the published in seven volumes between 1837 - 1838 with the second edition being extended to ten volumes in 1839. In the biography a great number of Scott's letters were published. Thomas Carlyle assessed it in a criticism contributed to the London and Westminster Review (1837). Lockhart's account of the business transactions between Scott and the Ballantynes and Constable caused an outcry; and in the discussion that followed he showed bitterness in his pamphlet The Ballantyne Humbug handled. The proceeds, which were considerable, Lockhart resigned for the benefit of Scott's creditors. With a preface dated 1836 to front of volume one and publisher's advertisements to rear of volume V. Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (1771 - 1832) was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time. Scott was the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers in Europe, Australia, and North America. His novels and poetry are still read, and many of his works remain classics of both English-language literature and of Scottish literature. Famous titles include Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, The Lady of the Lake, Waverley, The Heart of Midlothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. All but the first volume have previous owner's ink inscription to front free endpaper dated 1838. In cloth bindings. Externally, generally sound but with some wear to extremities with loss in places to some backstrips, rubbing and marks to board including the odd slight ink mark and stain. On joint starting, one nearing detached and occaisonal slight splits to cloth to some other joints. Four hinges strained, one tender. Internally, generally firmly bound although with occaisonal slight straining and with frontispiece to volume I detached. Bright but with scattered foxing to all volumes and offsetting to title from frontispiece to volume one. Good Only