M. A. Titmarsh; [William Makepeace Thackeray] — The Kickleburys on the Rhine

London, Smith, Elder, & Co, 1866. Cloth. The second edition of Thackeray"s witty Christmas book, published under the pseudonym M. A. Titmarsh, following the social ambitions of an English family travelling the Rhine, illustrated with fifteen colour plates. In the publisher's original cloth binding.Illustrated with a colour frontispiece, and illustrated title page, and thirteen further colour plates. Collated, complete. This second edition is the only edition of this work to include 'An Essay on Thunder and Small Beer', which serves as the preface.A humorous Christmas book by Thackeray, first published in 1850 under his pseudonym M. A. Titmarsh, following the adventures of the socially ambitious Kicklebury family as they travel along the Rhine in search of status. A satirical attack on the Grand Tours, in which upper-class young gentleman would travel around Europe for 'cultural immersion&apos. William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), was a British novelist, author, and illustrator, best known for satirical works such as Vanity Fair, as well as The Luck of Barry Lyndon. The Kickleburys on the Rhine forms part of this series of 'The Christmas Books', which were illustrated and widely read upon publication.With twelve pages of publisher's adverts to rear of text.  In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, smart. Slight fading to spine and extremities. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities, more so to lower corners. Slight tearing to cloth at front joint and to upper extremity of rear joint, with very minor loss to cloth. Hinges slightly strained, more to to front, holding firm. Internally, firmly bound. Hinges slightly strained in places, but firm. Pages bright and clean if slightly age toned with one or two light spots to fore edge. Very Good . Ill.: William Makepeace Thackeray. Very Good .