Letters from the Mountains; being the real Correspondence of a Lady, between the Years 1773 and 1807. In three volumes. Vol. I [-III]. The Second Edition.

GRANT, Anne MacVicar (1755-1838).

Edité par London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, 1807.

A propos de cet article

Second Edition, Enlarged. in contemporary half calf over pink marbled boards, some light wear to the bindings most notably two small defects to the spines of vols. I and II, flat spines ruled and numbered in gilt, Downshire monogram in the upper compartment, red morocco label lettered in gilt. Three volumes, 12mo (176 x 102 mm), pp. [iii]-xii, 216; [ii], 280; [ii], 224, apparently wanting the half-titles, paper fault II, K2, A fascinating account in epistolary form of a woman?s life after she returns to rural Scotland following her father?s army career. It makes for a particularly interesting read as Grant spent all her early childhood in America, firstly in New York and then in Vermont after her father left Scotland on obtaining a commission in the 77th foot regiment during the Seven Years War. By the time the family returned to Scotland because of her father?s ill-health in 1768, Anne was a teenage girl who identified herself as an American: her memoirs were published under the title Memoirs of an American Lady, London 1808 and thoughts of America weave through the present text, whether as thoughts of travelling there or of comparisons, for example where Fort Augustus is described as ?a miniature of New York? Her father?s death in 1801 left Grant struggling with poverty and she turned to writing to raise money, firstly a volume of poems published in 1803 and then this collection of letters, spanning from her early youth to the date of publication, which were edited with the assistance of the antiquary George Chalmers. Having been educated almost entirely by her mother while in America, Grant remains a conservative in matters of female education. ?I have seen Mary Woolstonecroft?s book?, she writes, ?which is so run after here, that there is no keeping it long enough to read it leisurely, though one had leisure. It has produced no other conviction in my mind, but that of the author?s possessing considerable abilities, and greatly misapplying them. Nothing can be more specious and plausible, for nothing can delight Misses more than to tell them they are as wise as their Masters. Though, after all, they will in every emergency be like Trinculo in the storm, when he crept under Caliban?s gaberdine for shelter. I consider this work as every way dangerous. First, because the author to considerable powers adds feeing, and I dare say a degree of rectitude of intention. She speaks from conviction on her own part, and has completely imposed on herself before she attempts to mislead you (Letter LI, To Miss Ourry, Glasgow, Jan. 2, 1794, II, 263). Although the reviewers either ignored or condemned Grant?s work - the Critical Review making fun of her enthusiasm for Ossian, for example - it did achieve considerable success, running to some seven editions by 1845. In February 1807, Jane Austen wrote to her sister Cassandra that although she had not read the letters herself, a friend of hers ?speaks of them as a new and much admired work, & as one which has pleased her highly? This second edition includes a new preface in which she thanks the supporters of her literary efforts: ?With what delight, were it permitted me, or could my voice confer distinction, should I enumerate my patrons; but more especially my patronesses. Cheered by their applause, exalted by their liberality, it would be a proud triumph indeed, were I at liberty to name those virtuous, elegant, and enlightened females, of whom it is not enough to say, that they do honour to England, as they are indeed an ornament to human nature? (I, xi).

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Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Letters from the Mountains; being the real Correspondence of a Lady, between the Years 1773 and 1807. In three volumes. Vol. I [-III]. The Second Edition.
• Éditeur: London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, 1807.
• Reliure: Couverture rigide
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • English Literature