MODERN MEN OF LETTER, Honestly Criticized

London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1870. First. Fine. Very attractive modern fine binding in full brown leather, with gilt titles and raised bands on the spine, and gilt borders on the covers and spine. Marbled endpapers. Binding and contents both in fine condition, with no marks or damage.

James Hain Friswell (1825 -1878) was an English essayist and novelist. He was a frequent contributor to Chambers's Journal, The Leader, The Spectator, the London Review, the Saturday Review, and the Pictorial World. In 1870, he produced Modern Men of Letters honestly criticized, which contained profiles and engraved plate portraits of 22 of the most prominent authors of the time, primarily British (Dickens, Browning, Trollope, etc.) but also some non-British, (Hugo, Longfellow, Emerson). George Augustus Sala (G.A.S.), whose life was very severely commented on in this work, brought an action for defamation of character against Hodder & Stoughton, the publishers of the book, and obtained 500 pounds damages.
In the advancement of the working classes Friswell took a great interest, delivering lectures, giving readings, and forming schools for their instruction. He also labored earnestly to reform cheap literature for boys, and his efforts were successful in repressing the circulation of some of the most notorious of the penny publications. The majority of his essays attained great popularity; but his novels did not possess the elements of enduring life.
Although the book is readily available in modern reprints, the original 1st edition is surprisingly uncommon.