George Eliot — 2 Vols Romola

London, Smith, Elder, and Co. 1880. Leather. A limited edition of George Eliot"s "Romola," illustrated with plates by Sir Frederick Leighton and handsomely bound in full calf by W. H. Smith, offered here as a partially complete but pleasing copy. In a pleasing full green calf binding with gilt dentelles, bound by W. H. Smith. A limited edition, being number one hundred and twenty one of just one thousand copies for sale.Volume I is bound in two parts, with its text continuing into the second volume. Volume II concludes at Chapter VIII only, lacking the remainder of the work, thirty-two chapters and the epilogue.With beautiful and compelling illustrations by Sir Frederick Leighton. Volume I is illustrated with a frontispiece and eleven plates, of which four plates are bound in Volume II. Volume II contains these four plates from Volume I, together with its own frontispiece and three plates, with the further eight plates lacking from where this volume concludes at chapter VIII. Romola is a historical novel by Mary Ann Evans under the pen name George Eliot. Set in Renaissance Florence, Romola is one of George Eliot's most ambitious and imaginative novels that follows Romola, the devoted and caring daughter of a blind scholar. Eliot creates a compelling, heroine who is battling for her own intellectual and spiritual awakening. George Eliot was one of the leading writers of the Victorian era, writing within the realms of realism, exploring her character's inner psychology in her novels Adam Bede, Middle March and Romola.  In a full calf binding with gilt dentelles, bound by W. H. Smith. Externally, very smart. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities, resulting in minor loss to calf, more so to heads and tails of spines and joints. Rubbing to boards with the odd light scratch to calf. The odd mark of pale residue to rear board of volume I. Slight fading to spines and extremities. Binder's discreet label partially removed to rear paste down of volume I, remaining to volume II with only partial removal. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with slight age toning to fore edge and one or two light spots. The second volume is incomplete as bound, lacking eight plates and the final thirty-two chapters and epilogue. Very Good . Ill.: Frederick Leighton. Very Good .