THE HONORABLE PETER STIRLING by Ford, Paul Leicester - 1894

1894. and What People Thought of Him. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1894. 2 pp undated ads. Original red cloth decorated in black and gilt.

First Edition of the author's first novel, based on his own abortive efforts to enter politics in his hometown of Brooklyn. The semi-realistic PETER STIRLING is of value as a picture of petty politics in America in the '90s, but is open to... charges of lack of form and artificiality of sentiment... Its success was largely due to the erroneous rumor that the chief character was based on Grover Cleveland. [K&H] Ford suffered from severe kyphosis (derogatorily called "hunchback"), and this "delicacy" prevented him from ever having schooling other than tutoring; son of an avid book collector, he became an accomplished bibliographer at an early age. In 1902, at the age of 37, he was shot and killed by a disinherited brother. This copy is in the primary binding state, with the title misspelled "STERLING." Near-fine condition (rear endpaper slightly cracked, but essentially no other wear). Blanck 6206; one of Merle Johnson's "High Spots of American Literature" (page 33) where he says "the career of Grover Cleveland fictionalized." With the bookplate of renowned collector Carroll Atwood Wilson (1886-1947), who served as chief legal counsel to the Guggenheims. In a morocco-backed slipcase.