Queenhoo-hall, A Romance: and ancient times, a drama

Edinburgh: Printed by James Ballantyne & Co. for John Murray...and Archibald Constable, 1808. In four volumes. Contemporary gilt-tooled calf, contrasting black morocco lettering-piece. Heavily rubbed, joints starting, upper board of Vol. I held by cords only. Recent book-labels of Eric Gerald Stanley to FEPs, near contemporary inked ownership inscriptions of Miss Charlotte Simpson to front blank fly-leaves, scattered spotting. The only work of fiction by antiquary and engraver Joseph Strutt (1749-1802), an historical romance set in fifteenth century England, published together with his play Ancient Times. The manuscript of the novel was unfinished at Strutt's death; Walter Scott edited it for the publisher and completed the final chapter, and as such Queenhoo-Hall is Scott's first published work of fiction, preceding Waverley by six years. The composition of the concluding chapters of this work had a great influence on Scott's subsequent career as a novelist. Writing in 1829 Scott described the editing and completing of Strutt's novel as 'a step in my advance towards romantic composition'; and while it certainly demonstrated his ability, its biggest influence was perhaps inadvertent - the poor sales and 'indifferent reception'; of this work (it was reissued with cancel title-pages twice) led Scott to believe 'that a romance, founded on a Highland Story and more modern events [i.e. Waverley] would have a better chance of popularity than a tale of chivalry'. . First edition. 12mo.