Mrs. Gaskell; Mary Russell Mitford — Cranford & Our Village

London, Macmillan and Co. Limited, 1892-1893. First edition. Cloth. Two smart volumes of these illustrated novels from English writers Elizabeth Gaskell and Mary Russell Mitford. Two volumes. Both illustrated throughout with in-text images from Hugh Thomson, an Irish illustrator best known for his pen-and-ink illustrations. With an introduction to each text from Anne Isabella, Lady Ritchie, the eldest daughter of William Makepeace Thackeray and an English writer. This set contains: Cranford, 1892. Fourth impression. An episodic novel following a cast from the fictional town of Cranford based on the small Cheshire town of Knutsford in which Elizabeth Gaskell grew up. Written by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, often referred to as Mrs Gaskell, was an English novelist, biographer, and short story writer. Our Village, 1893. First edition. A collection of about one hundred literary sketches of rural life, the vivid series was based upon life in Three Mile Cross, a hamlet in the parish of Shinfield (south-east of Reading in Berkshire), where she lived. Written by Mary Russell Mitford, an English essayist, novelist, poet and dramatist. In the original full green cloth binding with gilt. Externally, sound with rubbing and minor bumping to the extremities. Light fading to the spines with splits in the cloth to the head and tail of the spine. Hinges starting but firm with the front endpaper of Cranford loosening. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with light scattered spotting. A contemporary ink inscription to the front endpaper. Very Good . Ill.: Hugh Thomson. Very Good .