(Oxford: at the Clarendon Press, 1926).

THE BEST EDITION OF JANE AUSTEN'S NOVELS. “Recognition came to Miss Austen slowly. But she is now firmly established as an English classic...Miss Austen had always her panegyrists among the best intellects-such as Coleridge, Tennyson, Macaulay, Scott, Sydney Smith, Disraeli and Archbishop Whitely, the last of whom may be said to have been her discoverer. Macaulay, whose adoration of Miss Austen’s genius was almost idolatrous, considered MANSFIELD PARK her greatest feat; but many critics give the palm to EMMA. Disraeli read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE seventeen times. Scott’s testimony is often quoted: ‘That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements, feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I have ever met with. The big bow-wow I can do myself like any one going; but the exquisite touch which renders commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment is denied to me.’” - EB. Item #32513

5 volumes. Preceded only by the Large Paper Issue of this edition. With a profusion of illustrations on full-page plates throughout the five volumes, all from contemporary sources. 8vo, publisher's original mauve polished cloth, the upper covers of each volume with central gilt ornamental device, the spines lettered in gilt. xiv, [2], 429, [1]; xiii, [1], 415, [1]; xii, [2], 567; x, [2], 521, [2]; xiii, [1], 310, [1] pp. A very fine set.