"MISFORTUNES WERE HEAPING THEMSELVES UPON THE AUTHOR": 1826 FIRST EDITION OF WALTER SCOTT'S WOODSTOCK

SCOTT, Walter. Woodstock; Or, The Cavalier. A Tale of the Year Sixteen Hundred and Fifty-One. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Co., 1826. Three volumes. Octavo, contemporary full tan calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, grey morocco spine labels. $1100.

First edition of Scott's tale set during the English Civil War, dealing with the escape of Charles II in 1652, during Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth, and Charles II's final triumphant entry into London in 1660.

"The work was written when misfortunes were heaping themselves upon the author: his financial ruin, the death of his wife, and the serious illness of his beloved grandson. The period is that of the Civil War, and the story centers in the escape of Charles II from England after the battle of Worcester. The scene is the royal lodge and park of Woodstock, near Oxford" (Oxford Companion to English Literature). "Scott's novels… are varied in period, in subject, and in technique. Indeed, Scott could be said to be a novelist who constantly explores new problems and uses new fictional structures to do so" (ODNB). Bound with all half titles. Todd & Bowden 190A. Bookplates.

Interior generally fine, early repairs to spine ends. A very handsome set.