The Walpole-Bell Copy
First English Edition in Book Form.
Rare first complete edition in English of Dumas's renowned novel The Three Musketeers. Initially serialized in the French newspaper La Siècle in 1844, Dumas's gripping tale quickly captivated a global audience, facilitated by the era’s lack of stringent copyright laws for French authors abroad.
The story first appeared in English serially in Vickers's London Journal in 1846, but this only included a portion of the text (132 pages) and the title had been changed to "Buckingham and Richelieu".
William Barrow's (1817-1877) translation was released in seven or eight 96-page installments, each priced at sixpence, before being compiled into a single volume priced at seven shillings, as presented here. This edition marked the debut volume of The Library of Foreign Romance, a series devoted to translating popular foreign novels, leveraging the contemporary acclaim of authors like Dumas and Eugène Sue.
Provenance
Hugh Walpole, with his "Brackenburn" bookplate on front pastedown.
Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole was a prolific English novelist and a key figure in 20th-century literature, born on March 13, 1884, in New Zealand and raised in England. He achieved early literary success with novels like The Wooden Horse and gained widespread acclaim with the Herries Chronicle series, which vividly depicted the English landscape and explored deep psychological themes. Walpole also made notable contributions to the horror genre and worked in the film industry, helping to script the 1935 adaptation of David Copperfield. Knighted in 1937 for his literary achievements, Walpole's works bridge the Victorian and modern traditions, reflecting his enduring influence in British literary circles until his death on June 1, 1941.
A. Craig Bell: "18.10.58 Bought for 1/6d from a barrow boy in London, thanks to R.W.P. First Edition".
Bell, born Alexander Craig Bell, was a British scholar and author known for his works on French literature and translations. He was particularly noted for his research and writings on Alexandre Dumas, contributing significantly to the English-speaking world's understanding and appreciation of Dumas' works.
Sotheby's London, English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations, 2003, lot 95
Pagination: vi, [7-9], 10-687, [1, ads] pages. A-2U8. Complete.