1838 The Works of Lady Blessington

Description

Publishers' Original Binding, Scarce

Illustrated with a portrait frontispiece to volume I, retaining the original tissue guard.

The Countess of Blessington, a known acquaintance of Lord Byron, was exceedingly beautiful and an accomplished hostess who shrugged off any attempt at conventional respectability. The Countess's name has been handwritten to the title page of volume III by a contemporary owner.

The rumours surrounding the relationship between her, her husband the Earl of Blessington, and Count Alfred d'Orsay was memorably treated by Michael Sadleir in his 1937 study 'Blessington d'Orsay: A Masquerade', and the biography 'The Strange Life of Lady Blessington'.

Present in these two volumes, printed in double columns, and with divisional half titles, are each of her novels up to 1838's 'Confessions of an Elderly Lady', and a selection of her minor works and poetry.

Included in these two volumes are: 'The Two Friends'; 'The Repealers'; 'Confessions of an Elderly Lady'; 'Confessions of an Elderly Gentleman'; 'The Victims of Society'; 'Conversations with Lord Byron'; 'The Honey-Moon'; 'Galeria'; 'Flowers of Loveliness', and 'Gems of Beauty'.

With the inscription Louis B. Smith to the head of each title page.

A scarce and impressive collections of the writings of this impressive eighteenth century Irish novelist, journalist, and literary hostess.