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Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys

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Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys

by HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel

  • Used
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Bryn Mawr,, Pennsylvania, United States
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About This Item

1852. HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel. A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys. Original blue blindstamped cloth, spine gilt, housed in custom cloth slipcase. Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1852. First edition, second issue with "lifted" corrected on P. 21, line 3. BAL 7606. Clark A.18.1.b. Slight rubbing to spine ends, small bookplate on front pastedown, early gift presentation on front free endpaper, occasional faint scattered foxing, else a near fine copy.

Synopsis

Hawthorne made it his ambition to be a writer as a teenager, he graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine, where poet Longfellow was also a student, and spent several years traveling New England writing short stories before creating The Scarlet Letter. He wrote A Wonder-Book between April and July 1851, freely adapting six legends from Charles Anton's A Classical Dictionary . He set out deliberately to 'modernize' the stories, freeing them from 'cold moonshine' and using a romantic, readable style. This was criticized by adults but proved universally popular with children.  The stories in A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys are all stories within a story. The frame being that a Williams College student, Eustace Bright, is telling these tales to a group of children at Tanglewood, an area in Lenox, Massachusetts, where Hawthorne lived for a time. A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys covers the myths of: The Gorgon's Head - the story of Perseus killing Medusa at the request of the king of the island, Polydectes. The Golden Touch - the story of King Midas and his "Golden Touch". The Paradise of Children - the story of Pandora opening the box filled with all of mankind's Troubles. The Three Golden Apples - the story of Heracles procuring the Three Golden Apples from the Hesperides' orchard, with the help of Atlas. The Miraculous Pitcher - the story of Baucis and Philemon providing food and shelter to two strangers who were Zeus and "Quicksilver" (Hermes) in disguise. Baucis and Philemon were rewarded by the gods for their kindness; they were promised never to live apart from one another. The Chimæra - the story of Bellerophon taming Pegasus and killing the Chimæra.

Read More: Identifying first editions of Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys

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Details

Bookseller
George S. MacManus Company US (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #
71954
Title
Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys
Author
HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel
Book Condition
Used
Quantity Available
1
Date Published
1852
Keywords
BALIT, LITX

Terms of Sale

George S. MacManus Company

We accept VS or MC or we will hold for a check. Books may be returned with the original packing slip within 7 days. Domestic Shipping via UPS is $5.00 for 1st volume, $2.50 for each additional volume. International rates given upon request.

About the Seller

George S. MacManus Company

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2005
Bryn Mawr,, Pennsylvania

About George S. MacManus Company

Our inventory of over 45,000 catalogued titles focuses primarily on 18th and 19th century Americana with specialities such as Voyages and Travels, Local Histories, Indians and the West and the Civil War. Also included in our collection are English and American literary first editions, Limited Edition Club selections and Books about Books.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Cloth
"Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Rubbing
Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
Spine
The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
First Edition
In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Fine
A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
BAL
Bibliography of American Literature (commonly abbreviated as BAL in descriptions) is the quintessential reference work for any...
Bookplate
Highly sought after by some collectors, a book plate is an inscribed or decorative device that identifies the owner, or former...

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