Balfour, Alexander Campbell; or, the Scottish probationer New York 1819
[Balfour, Alexander.] Campbell; or, the Scottish probationer. A novel. London printed; New York: reprinted by William A. Mercein; for Kirk and Mercein, C. Wiley and Co., W. B. Gilley, and A. T. Goodrich and Co., 1819. 274; 272 pp. Two vols. in one, 12mo, contemporary calf, gilt, spine gilt (spine a bit worn). First American edition; first published in Edinburgh earlier the same year. The author's first novel, a tale of contemporary Scotland, narrated in the first person. Alexander Balfour was largely self-taught. In 1818 he became a clerk for the Edinburgh publishing house Blackwood, but within a short time he was struck down by paralysis, and confined to a wheelchair. Campbell turned to literature for his support; three later novels were published by A. K. Newman at the Minerva Press. "Though written for the popular press, his novels are characterized by penetrating insight and skilful depiction of characters." -- Oxford DNB. Wanting a half-title in the first volume (the half-title for Vol. II is present). Old armorial bookplate of Walter Cary; some foxing, otherwise a very good copy. A scarce title. Cf. The English Novel, 1770-1829, II, p. 475; cf. Block, p. 13; Shaw and Shoemaker 47052.
£75
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