WITHIN AND WITHOUT. A Dramatic Poem.
Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans.London.,1855, 1855.
FIRST EDITION, THE AUTHORS SCARCE FIRST BOOK. 8vo. Presentation copy from MacDonald to fellow author Rev. Charles Kingsley. Inscribed on the title page "The Reverend Charles Kingsley, with much honour from George Macdonald". Original publishers brown morocco-grain cloth, the spine lettered in gilt, boards with thick-and-thin border blocked in blind, reddish brown endpapers. Skilfully recased with the inner hinges restored. Overall a near to very good copy. Housed in a cloth folding case with a black spine label lettered in gilt.----------An excellent association copy, bringing together the only two significant writers of Christian fantasy in the Victorian period. Kingsley recognised the newcomer’s talent immediately, writing back to MacDonald in approbation after receiving this copy (see Robert Lee Wolff, George MacDonald;the Golden Key). Though demonstrating that MacDonald had obvious failings as a dramatist, the book announced his lyrical talent and won, as well as Kingsley's approval, the appreciation of Tennyson and the intense admiration of Lady Byron, who became at once one of MacDonald's closest friends and supporters (ODNB).:.
Item #6740
Price: £6,500.00