The Students' Quarter or Paris Five-and-Thirty Years Since (1st Edition)

London: John Camden Hotten. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. First Edition. Hardcover. Thackeray (1811-1863) was an English novelist best known for his satirical works, especially the novels Vanity Fair and The Luck of Barry Lyndon. According to the preface by the publisher of this work, he wrote some of the chapters about Paris during an 1839-1840 sojourn there, but they must reference an earlier time, since five-and-thirty years before his death in 1863 would imply the 1820s. He was in Paris among other places on the continent during that time period. The book does not include a publication date, but it was published posthumously by John Camden Hotten, who himself died in 1873. Hotten was a rogue publisher and possible swindler who published a dictionary of slang as well as pornographic and erotic works. After Hotten's death, the name of his company was changed, so the publication date must have been somewhere between 1864 and 1873. Others have speculated 1873. This is a probable first edition (and indeed only edition). Interestingly, it is not generally cited in Thackeray's bibliography, and the publisher says that it was not included in his Collected Works, although a chapter or two may have appeared in The Paris Sketch Book. This book is indicative of Thackeray's satirical style and includes chapters on journeying by boat to Paris, French fiction, Paris life, and rambling in the picture galleries. A very unusual publication, and worthy of a place in a literary historian's collection. Octavo. Blue cloth-covered boards with gilt title to spine, as well as stamp of JC Hotten to spine (printed prior to company name change). Includes 5 color plates. There is an inch-long notch to cloth at bottom of spine and there is wear to the spine ends. The rear board is damp stained and warped, though the interior remains clean and free from water damage. 202 pages. LIT11152.