‎MARRYAT, FREDERICK.‎
‎The Children of the New Forest. 2 vols. ‎

‎London, H. Hurst, (1847). 8vo. Two volumes, both in publisher's original embossed cloth with gilt lettering to spines and front boards. Ex-libris (Henry Frederick 6th Marquess of Bath) to pasted down front end-paper and previous owner's name in contemporary hand to front free end-paper. Light wear to extremities, corners bumped and spine-ends slightly chipped. Hinges a bit weak and bookblock partly split between quire N and O in vol. I, but generally a nice and clean copy preserved in its original bindings. (4), 288 pp. + 4 engraved plates (including the frontispiece) (6), 298, 4 [advertisement] pp. + 4 engraved plates (including the frontispiece). Complete with a total of 8 plates and the 4 pp. of advertisements. ‎

Reference : 62768

‎First edition, rarely found in publisher’s original cloth, of Captain Marryat’s popular work often regarded as one of the earliest English historical novels written for young readers. It was Marryat’s last novel published during his lifetime. The novel is set during English Civil War and following the four orphaned Beverley children who is hiding for their oppressors in the shelter of the New Forest where they learn to live off the land. Written near the end of Marryat’s life, the novel departs from his sea stories to offer a didactic yet romantic vision of childhood, nature, and English history, and became a cornerstone of Victorian juvenile literature. It remained a schoolroom classic well into the 20th century, inspiring numerous illustrated and abridged editions. Written near the end of Marryat’s life, the novel became a cornerstone of Victorian juvenile literature. It remained well read classic well into the 20th century and numerous illustrated and abridged editions were published. Lowndes III, 1481**‎