A propos de cet article
First edition of this rare political satire, in which the "Man of the Moon" takes the "Man of the People", a caricature of the then-Foreign Secretary Charles James Fox, on a lunar voyage. During their travels, the pair compare their societies, discourse on reason and morality, dine with Julius Caesar, visit Pandaemonium, and use the Mirror of Truth. The last copy traced at auction was an incomplete one in 1975. By the early modern period, the ancient motif of an anthropomorphic moon had became a well-established character of intrigue, merriment, and scorn, known as "The Man in the Moon". The scientific progress that was made in the years following the cosmic journey of Paradise Lost (1667) led more British writers to imagine space-faring through natural means. Eschewing science for politics, the present work returns to the supernatural roots of the Man in the Moon character in its polemic against the foibles of the British people, politics, and parliament. The real Charles James Fox (1749-1806) earned the title "Man of the People" after becoming the MP for the coveted Westminster constituency, and he later directed the short-lived Fox-North coalition government of 1783, which George III dismissed in favour of the Younger Pitt's premiership. A popular but controversial figure, Fox was outspoken in challenging the king's authority and sympathising with American independence. A broadsheet etching of 1782, drawing on similar public sentiments to this novel, shows Fox being flown across the Atlantic by geese, which assert he is better placed in congress than parliament and that "he bids fairer now to be the man in the moon than The Man of the People". The world-weary Charles Fox of the novel is designated as the Man of the People after compassionately crying out to his wayward countrymen. His speech is overheard by the Man of the Moon, who replies to his earthly counterpart, "You have spoken the truth. The pleasures of this world are dull in their existence, short in their duration, and painful in their consequences. But mount immediately on my nose, and have no fear from my uncommon appearance. I have a large face." (I, pp. 12-13). The fantastical adventures that follow are interspersed with Swiftian digressions, such as the semi-autobiographical chapter "Some Account of the Editor of These Wonderful Travels". After returning to Earth, Fox is greeted with a letter from his coalition partner Lord North and exclaims, "I have seen many wonders, but this exceeds them all" (II, p. 213). The Scottish writer William Thomson (1746-1817) abandoned his career in the clergy after his "parishioners made urgent complaints about his irascible temper and his taste for sensual and social pleasures" (ODNB). He then made his way to London to become a man of letters. "For the next thirty-five years he wrote on a great variety of subjects, producing pamphlets, memoirs, elaborate biographies, voyages, travels (in Europe, Asia, and Africa under the names of Thomas Newte, Sergeant Donald Macleod, or Andrew Swinton), commentaries on the Bible scripture, treatises on national history or on military tactics" (ibid.). We have traced six copies in institutions: the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, British Library, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the Huntington. Currey I, p. 109; ESTC T70735; NCBEL II, p. 1007; Nicolson, Voyages to the Moon, p. 283; Halkett & Laing VI, p. 11; Howgego T8; Raven & Forster 1783:22. "The habeas corpus, or the wild geese flying with Fox to America", etching of 1782. Two vols, octavo (154 x 92 mm). Contemporary polished calf, smooth spines with red morocco labels and gilt floral tooling, milled gilt roll on board edges, edges yellow, green silk bookmarkers. With 4 leaves of publisher's adverts, as called for. Spines lightly toned, small chip to vol. II spine head, joint ends just starting, browning to outer leaves, clean overall. A very good copy indeed. N° de réf. du vendeur 156854
Contacter le vendeur
Signaler cet article
