WOMAN; OR IDA OF ATHENS

Philadelphia | New York | Baltimore: Bradford & Inskeep | Inskeep & Bradford | Coale & Thomas, 1809. Early American Edition. Half Leather. Very Good binding. An uncommon copy. Not found in Shaw & Shoemaker. The original London edition was published in four volumes; the first American edition was published in two volumes; this edition, published the same year, is all four volumes bound in one. Lady Morgan, née Owenson, gained her fame from The Wild Irish Girl, "a work of genius, though misguided genius" (NB XIII 924), which stirred controversy in Ireland through its openly nationalist sentiments. This work is a romance written soon after her rise to fame, set in Greece and England, which features self-indulgent English aristocrats opposite revolutionary and romantic Greek nationalists. According to the National Biography, this was to be her final novel for some time with an overtly "patriotic Irish subject" (XIII 925). No doubt, the revolutionary themes resonated with the American public at this time. Half bound in red and black morocco, with curling to the corners of the boards and wear to all edges of the spine. Vertical creasing to the spine, with titling and rules stamped in gilt. Rubbing to the marbled paper boards. Previous owner's name written on the front endpaper. Lacking rear endpaper. Foxed and toned throughout. (Dictionary of National Biography, XIII 924-926.). Very Good binding.