“I HAVE NOT STUDIED WOMEN MORE CLOSELY THAN I HAVE MEN, BUT WITH MORE AFFECTION”

(MEREDITH, George) BEDFORD, Herbert. The Heroines of George Meredith. [London]: Hodder and Stoughton, circa 1911. Quarto, contemporary three-quarter blue morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, uncut. $450.

Early edition of Bedford’s portraits—in prose and in painting—of George Meredith’s most memorable female characters, illustrated with 20 mounted color plates, handsomely bound by Hatchards.

In introducing this survey of Meredith's memorable leading ladies, author and illustrator Bedford states that Meredith's "uncanny insight into the women's minds, and his intuitive understanding both of their feelings and of the secret well-springs of their actions, compel us to regard them as the fruit of his highest inspiration." Bedford provides watercolor portraits of Bella Mount (from The Ordeal of Richard Feverel), Sandra Belloni, Rhoda Fleming, Clara Middleton (The Egoist), Diana Warwick (Diana of the Crossways) and 15 others. First published 1911.

Spine toned to green. A fine copy, handsomely bound.