THE LIFE OF HENRY FIELDING; with Notices of His Writings, His Times, and His Contemporaries by Lawrence, Frederick - 1855

London: Arthur Hall, Virtue, & Co., 1855. viii, 384 pages. 19th century half calf and marbled paper-covered boards; spine with raised bands, leather labels, and gilt decorations; all edges marbled; marbled endpapers. 19 x 13 cm. Long tear to one page with old tissue repair (now tanned), affecting multiple letters with no loss of legibility; else very good. Leather a bit faded and lightly worn. Engraved bookplate of William C. Stuart with unicorn emblem on front pastedown. FIRST EDITION. "A work of great research and taste." --DNB (Lawrence). "Lawrence was the first to attempt a thorough account [of Fielding's life]." --DNB (Fielding). Like Fielding before him, Frederick Lawrence (1821-1867) was a lawyer and a member of the Middle Temple. He published a few legal works, contributed to the periodical press, and edited a short-lived journal, "The Iris." The present volume was his most significant contribution to literature.