Realities of Irish Life. By W. Steuart French, Land Agent in Ireland to Marquis of Landowne, Marquis of Bath, and Lord Digby. With Illustrations By His Son J. Townsend Trench Hardcover - 1869

London: Longmans, Green & Co, 1869. Trench (1808-1872) served as a Land Agent for several Irish landlords, experiencing the Great Famine from an opposite perspective than that of the peasantry; he writes vividly but today would be seen at the least as patronizing. One of his conclusions is that murder in Ireland is not based upon passion but is the result of nationalist feelings of revenge; perhaps the author colored his data a bit due to various assassination attempts on his own life. It was was a popular book in its time, going to several editions. An important source that is now uncommon to scarce. This is a Very Good copy of the Second Edition in an attractive Fine Binding. Green leather spine and tips over marbled boards. Gilt ruling on the spine; red leather label with lettering in gilt. Clean text; 411 pages. Still bright and clear; some spotting at the endpapers, with old flood marks in the first few pages in the front. The front hinge has cracked but the volume is holding nicely. Small previous-owner stamp on the front paste-down. An attractive addition to the historical library. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Second Edition.. Half-Leather. Very Good/No Jacket.