Rhoda Broughton — Not Wisely, But Too Well & Nancy

London, Richard Bentley and Son, 1879-c1880. Cloth. Two smart novels from Welsh author Rhoda Broughton, known for her sensationalism. Two volumes. Written by Rhoda Broughton, a Welsh novelist and short story writer whose early novels earned her a reputation for sensationalism, so that her later, stronger work tended to be neglected by critics. She was a long-time friend of writer Henry James and was noted for her adversarial relationship with both Lewis Carroll and Oscar Wilde. This set includes: Not Wisely, But Too Well, 1879. An account of a young girl's growth into a solemn, determined woman while tested by demons and angels. The reader witnesses her navigation of the commonplace cruelties of Victorian society. Nancy, c1880. Lacking the title page and pages one and two. Following the life of a young nineteen year-old woman who is to marry a man almost thirty years her senior. Once wed, their relationship becomes fraught with misunderstandings. In the original full cloth binding. Externally, smart with rubbing and light bumping to the extremities. Minor fading to the spine with the odd mark to the boards. Small splits to the head and tail of the spine. Hinges starting but firm with loss of front endpapers, title page, and pages one and two of Nancy. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with the odd spot of handling mark. Contemporary ink inscription to the front endpaper of Not Wisely, But Too Well. Bookseller's label to the front pastedown of Nancy. Good . Ill.: None. Good .