1857 Two Years Ago, Reverend Charles Kingsley. Macmillan. Fine binding. 1st ed.

Complete, in 3 volumes, first edition, Two Years Ago, by Reverend Charles Kingsley (1857, Macmillan and Co., Cambridge).

About the Work -

“In Two Years Ago (1857), Kingsley once more returned to contemporary life, dealing with such of its moral difficulties and of its material evils as more particularly came under his cognisance. The main teaching of the book may, perhaps, be said to be that the processes of Providence are to be read by him who runs in both the happiness and the unhappiness of which the world around us is full—in the beauty of nature, and in the power granted to human action to set right much of the wrong wrought by human sloth and self-indulgence, and that, consequently, man is called upon for faith and hope and the self-devotion of love, thus receiving the one answer for which pure and honest spirits are, consciously or unconsciously, in search.” – Cambridge History of English and American Literature

About the Author -

Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) was a broad church priest of the Church of England, a university professor, social reformer, historian and novelist. He is particularly associated with Christian socialism, the working men's college, and forming labour cooperatives that failed but led to the working reforms of the progressive era. He was a friend and correspondent with Charles Darwin. He was also the uncle of female explorer Mary Kingsley.

Physical Attributes -

Each measures approx. 19 x 13 x 2.5 cm. 1/2 leather, ruled in gilt, boards marbled. Title, author, volume and year in gilt on spine, with five raised cords. Top-edge gilt. Marbled endpapers. Volume one - (1) vi, xxxii, 304, (1). Volume two - (1) vi, 280, (1). Volume three - (1) vi, 315, (1).

Condition -

See pictures. Shelf wear, with some board rubs and edge wear. Rear joint and hinge of volume one cracked, board held on by binding cords. Also, slight chipping at top of spines. Some pencil bookseller notes on volume one front unpaginated blank endpaper. No other writing. Occasional spot (singular). Occasional dog-eared page.