Trollope, Anthony

Barchester Towers & The Warden

New York, NY: Random House/ The Modern Library, 1950. First Edition Thus. Hardcover. 'Virtually the only quarrel among Trollope enthusiasts revolves around the preference between Barchester Towers and The Warden. The editors of the Modern Library serve both factions by including the two novels in a single volume, not so much to placate a host of dedicated Trollopians, but because Barchester Towers is, by the author's own intention, inseparable from The Warden, and is its sequel." (from front flap) The two most acclaimed novels in the "Chronicles of Barsetshire" series by the British author Anthony Trollope (1815-1882), one of the great Victorian-era literary figures along with his contemporary Charles Dickens. The Warden (1855) & Barchester Towers (1857) are the first two installments in the six-volume series which, along with the prolific Trollope's many other works, remain popular & studied over the world to this day. Here we have the 1950 Modern Library edition of these two novels in one volume, preceded by the 1936 ML edition with new graphics & an informative introduction by none other than Harlan Hatcher (1898-1998), who was the President of the University of Michigan here in Ann Arbor (1951-1967) & in whose honor the stately UM Graduate Library is named. Interestingly, the front flap states the author of the introduction as A. Edward Newton (1864-1940), the legendary American book collector & Trollope enthusiast who wrote the introduction to the previous ML edition. Smaller-format hardcover in clipped dust jacket, first edition thus with no reference to further printings on copyright page. An exemplary & collectible Modern Library production of these two beloved Trollope novels. Book in relatively better-than-usual fine condition with hardly any rubbing to front, back covers & spine; a touch of wear at edges & corners of same; very slight rubbing, browning to side & lower edges of text block; slightest rubbing, fading to black-dyed upper edge of same. Interior fine with previous owner's (last only) name in cursive blue ink over ML torch-bearer motif at center of front paste-down; light browning mostly to blank margins/edges of page leaves. Dust jacket relatively quite fine, again better than usual, with mild rubbing, scratching & a bit of browning to front, back covers, spine & flaps; mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; several very short, closed tears at spine-edges, corners with minimal loss of surface paper. Fine / Fine. [Item #5572]

Price: $20.00