Collected Papers, - 1862

London: John Murray,, 1862. First edition of the Collected papers of Harriet Grote, comprising reviews, papers contributed to the "Spectator" weekly newspaper, and poetical pieces. Presentation copy, inscribed on the initial blank "To Richard Monckton Milnes Esq M. P. (from his old friend the author) Nov. 5. 1862." Subjects of he various reviews and papers include Léonce de Lavergne's Essay on the rural oeconomy of England, the life of the Rev. Sydney Smith, French politics, The War from an unpopular point of view, and the Law of marriage. Harriet Grote (née Lewin, 1792–1878) was extensively well read in political economy and philosophy, a leading proponent of political radicalism, a devoted patron of the arts, and a staunch supporter of the early feminist movement. She earned many epithets: referred to as "the Empress" by her family, she was nicknamed the "queen of the radicals" by Sydney Smith, and "absolutely unconventional" by Mary Charlotte Mair Simpson. Cobden remarked that Harriet was "a remarkable woman, desperately blue in the stocking" - "Had she been a man, she would have been the leader of a party". She eloped and married the radical politician and historian George Grote (1794-1871) on 5 March 1820. Both she and her husband supported reform of the married woman's property law; she was one of the signatories of the 1866 Petition, and spoke at the first public meeting of the Millicent Fawcett's London National Society for Women's Suffrage in 1869. Octavo. Original embossed red cloth, blind-rule borders to sides, spine ruled and lettered gilt, coated endpapers. Engraved frontispiece. 12-page Murray catalogue dated November, 1861 at end. Edmonds and Remnants ticket to rear pastedown. Crewe bookplate to front pastedown. Short snag to foot of spine without loss. Tissue guard to frontispiece loose, front hinge cracked but very firm. Occasional light foxing, final few leaves a little dog eared; a very good copy.