Thomas Hardy — Two on a Tower

London, Osgood, McIlvaine and Co. 1895. Cloth. A handsome early edition of this notable Wessex novel by Thomas Hardy, in the publisher's cloth binding. Variant binding, with Harpers to spine, but published by Osgood. First published in book form in 1882 by Sampson, Low and Marston. The work was initially serialised by Atlantic Monthly, both in the UK and US. 'Two on a Tower' is a fantastical romance set in late Victorian Dorset, following star-crossed lovers and their love which defies the divides of class and age.  Part of Hardy's popular Wessex series, but was not well received upon publication due to its contents shocking the public of the 1880s. Illustrated with a frontispiece by H. Macbeth-Raeburn, and a map of Wessex. In the original cloth binding. Externally very smart with slight bumping to the extremities. The odd mark to the board. Ink inscription to front free endpaper. Internally firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Marginal age toning. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: H. Macbeth-Raeburn. Very Good Indeed .