Mrs. Gaskell [Elizabeth Gaskell] — Cranford

London, Macmillan and Co. Limited, 1898. Cloth. A charming edition of this popular collection of village sketches with illustrations by Hugh Thomson. With forty beautiful in-text illustrations in colour and sixty pen-and-ink sketches. First published in book form in 1853, this episodic work became extremely popular towards the end of the nineteenth century, and follows village life as inspired by the author's time growing up in Knutsford. Written by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, often referred to as Mrs Gaskell, was an English novelist, biographer, and short story writer. With a preface by Anne Isabella, Lady Ritchie, an English writer and the eldest daughter of William Makepeace Thackeray. Illustrated by Hugh Thomson, an Irish Illustrator best known for his illustrations of works by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Previously held in the library of Cicely Margaret Binyon, an English writer, editor, and translator. In the original full cloth binding. Externally, smart with light rubbing and bumping to the extremities. Light fading to the spine with the odd small mark to the boards. Minor splits in the cloth to the head and tail of the spine. Hinges starting but firm. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with light scattered spotting. Previous owner's bookplate to the front pastedown. Good . Ill.: Hugh Thomson. Good .