c.1888 "Ask Mamma" of, The Richest Commoner in England

Description

Colour Plates, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding

Robert Smith Surtees was an English editor, novelist and sporting writer best known for his contributions to the first English sporting periodical to devote itself to every type of sport, 'The Sporting Magazine'. Surtees launched his own sporting magazine entitled the 'New Sporting Magazine' in 1831, contributing the comic papers which appeared as 'Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities' in 1838. Jorrocks, the eponymous, vulgar and artful sporting cockney grocer was a great success with the public and is often considered as one of the great comic characters of English Literature. However, another work that demonstrates Surtees talent for creating colorful and humorous characters, is this text '"Ask Mamma": Or the Richest Commoner in England', first published in 1858. '"Ask Mama"' similarly pokes fun at the country life lived by many wealthy Victorians, and follows the romantic exploits of two generations of the Pringle family, from the marriage between the humble seamstress Miss Emma Willing and Mr. Billy Pringle, to the adventures and exploits of their son, Fine Billy. Much of the humour of the text derives from Fine Billy's entrance into 'polite country society'. Collated, complete with thirteen colour plates by Surtees' long-term collaborator John Leech, as well as many wood engravings throughout the text.