(New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1893).

SCARCE FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION OF THIS FAMOUS HISTORICAL NOVEL. Lewis Wallace, general of the Union soldiers in the Civil War, governor of the New Mexico Territory, and frequent lecturer, wrote only three works during his busy life. Between his tenure as member of the court and holding office as governor, he published THE FAIR GOD (1873), while preparing to write BEN HUR (1880), which has since been translated into several languages. His time in the Middle East as an ambassador to Turkey proved an inspiration to his writing THE PRINCE OF INDIA (1893), a story about a Jew during the period of the late Byzantine Empire.
The story recounts events leading to the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453. The legendary wandering jew, in the guise of a Prince of India aids in bringing about the downfall of the city and its empire by aiding and advising the Turkish Sultan Mehmed II. This popular historical romance was published only twelve years before Wallace, the indefatigable renaissance man, died, and this book was his last great contribution to world literature. Item #30881

2 volumes. First Edition. 8vo, publisher s original dark blue cloth lettered in gilt and with elaborate decorations in red, black and silver on the upper cover and spine. (i-ii), (i-vi), 502; (i-vi), 578. An attractive, clean and handsome copy with the gilt and colours still bright. There is only very light evidence of age or shelving. A very pleasing set.