Felix Holt the Radical

First edition. With half-titles and 4 pp. of integral advertisements to rear of vol. iii. 3 vols. 8vos. Pp. [iv], 303, [1, blank]; [iv], 290; [iv], 283, [1, blank], [4, publisher's catalogue titled "Recent Publications"]. Publisher's sand-grained cinnamon cloth, covers blocked in blind, spines lettered and ruled in gilt, all edges untrimmed; pale yellow-coated endpapers. Issued in five different bindings, labelled "A" through "E" by Carter, with "A" through "C" branded simultaneous primary bindings, with no priority established, and "D" and "E" following.

The present set is in Carter's variant "B" binding, with "W. Blackwood" rather than "Wm. Blackwood" to foot of spines as noted in Baker & Ross, note 2, p.232. Small contemporary bookseller's ticket on the front pastedown of each volume (R. H. Sutton of 120 Portland St., Manchester). Backstrips lightly rubbed at head and foot of each volume. An exceptional, mostly unopened set, with only the first half of vol. ii cut open, and vols. i and iii entirely undisturbed.

Published around the time of the Second Reform Act of 1867, which expanded the voting franchise beyond the landed classes, Eliot's fifth novel "vividly evokes the political ferment and corrupt electioneering tactics" employed in the wake of its predecessor Act of 1832. (Oxford Companion to English Literature). Rejected by Smith, Elder, who had previously published Romola (1863), the manuscript was then offered to Blackwood who agreed a £5,000 advance for the copyright. Notwithstanding critical barbs about its focus on politics, the novel was commercially successful with "nearly 5,000 copies... sold in the first year" (ODNB).

[Carter, Binding Variants, pp. 111–112; Baker & Ross A8.1; Parrish pp. 20–21; Sadleir 814; Wolff 2058]