MARMADUKE WYVIL; OR THE MAID'S REVENGE. A Historical Romance.

First British edition, first printing. Inscribed presentation copy. Three volumes. Publisher's full green morocco, elaborately decorated in gilt and with titles in gilt to the spine. All edges gilt. Half title in volume I. A very good copy, the bindings square and firm with rubbing to the edges and uniform fading to the spines and board edges. The contents, a little spotted to the prelims and margins are otherwise clean throughout. Scarce in this form, especially so in presentation state.

Inscribed by Henry William Herbert in black ink on the front endpaper in volume I "Anne King / In remembrance of / her friend / the author / June 1843". The first of the author's books to be published in England under his own name. An American edition was published in New York by J. Winchester, New World Press in the same year. The author's advertisement in this British first edition is dated 31 March 1843, in the American edition it is dated April 3rd 1843. The printed dedication differs in the British and American editions, here the book is dedicated to the author's father; in the American edition the printed dedication is to 'Anson Livingstone'. The best selling work of fiction by the English born novelist, poet, classical scholar, illustrator, and sports writer Henry William Herbert (1807-1858). The eldest son of the Revd William Herbert (1778-1847), dean of Manchester, and the Hon. Letitia Emily Dorothea, daughter of Joshua, fifth Viscount Allen, Henry was educated at Eton and graduated BA from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge in 1830. Prompted by personal and financial indiscretions, after which his family refused to acknowledge his existence, he emigrated to America in 1831, settling in New York where he found employment as a classics master at the Revd R. Townsend Huddart's Classical Institute. As a classical scholar he had few equals in North America, and his translations from Greek, Roman, and French originals received high praise. In 1833 he started the 'American Monthly Magazine', which he edited, in conjunction with A. D. Patterson, and in 1834 his first novel, 'The Brothers: a Tale of the Fronde' was puplished. He is perhaps best known for his writings on sport, published under the pseudonym of 'Frank Forester'. Twice married, the breakdown of his second marriage, after just a few months, resulted in his death by suicide at the age of 51. [Van Winkle, W. M.: Henry William Herbert, A Bibliography of his Writings, p.6; not in Sadlier; ODNB]