Robert Chambers' life (1802-71) is a classic rags-to-riches story. Forced to leave school at 13 after his father was bankrupted, he set up as an Edinburgh bookseller with his first stock consisting of his old schoolbooks. By 1871 he was joint owner of one of the largest publishing houses in the English-speaking world, W. & R.Chambers, was a respected popular writer supported by Sir Walter Scott, and had published an anonymous and highly controversial book on evolutionary theory, pre-dating Darwin by 15 years. This biography shows the more sensitive side of this acute businessman and scholar. Weaving together his private letters and unpublished reminiscences it describes his colourful early life in Peebles, his initial struggle in Edinburgh and above all, his love-affair with 19-year-old Anne Kirkwood, conducted almost entirely by post.
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Vendeur : Edinburgh Books, Edinburgh, Royaume-Uni
Soft cover. Etat : Near Fine. First Edition. 1990. viii, 196pp. B&W illustrations. "Robert Chambers' life (1802-71) is a classic rags-to-riches story. Forced to leave his school in Peebles at the age of 13 after his father was swindled and bankrupted, he set himself up as an Edinburgh bookseller with an original stock consisting of his old schoolbooks. Yet with his brother William, he set up one of the largest publishing houses in the English-speaking world (W. and R. Chambers); he became a respected popular writer (with the support of Sir Walter Scott) and in 1844 published an anonymous and controversial book on evolution theory, Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation. Man of Letter shows the more sensitive side to the acute businessman, weaving together his private letters and unpublished reminiscences. It describes his colorful early life in Peebles, his initial struggle in Edinburgh, and his touching love affair with nineteen-year-old Anne Kirkwood, conducted almost entirely by post. Painstakingly researched, this is a delightful human story which also gives a unique insight into nineteenth-century Scottish life." The book is in excellent condition. There are no inscriptions and all contents are tight and clean. N° de réf. du vendeur ScotLitChambers01
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