Lady Morgan - Italy - 1821

Lady Morgan – Italy – 2 Volumes – 1821

Author: Lady Morgan (Sydney Owenson)
Title: Italy
Publisher: Henry Colburn and Co., London
Date: 1821
Format: Two volumes, octavo
Binding: Contemporary or early 19th-century full calf, gilt-ruled spines with leather title labels

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Description

A handsome and complete two-volume first edition of Italy by Lady Morgan, one of the most influential and controversial travel writers of the early 19th century.

Published in 1821, Italy is far more than a travelogue. It is a vivid, politically engaged portrait of post-Napoleonic Italy, combining art, history, society, and sharp liberal commentary. The work caused considerable debate on publication and was banned by the Vatican, making it one of the most talked-about travel books of its time.

Lady Morgan’s writing was admired for its independence of thought, sympathy for Italian nationalism, and acute observations of culture and politics. Her work influenced later travel literature and contributed to Britain’s evolving view of continental Europe.

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Condition
• Both volumes complete and matching
• Text blocks clean and firmly bound
• Some light age-related toning and spotting, consistent with early 19th-century paper
• Bindings in good, solid condition with expected rubbing and wear to edges
• Spine labels clear and legible

Overall a very attractive, well-preserved set for its age.

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Why this book matters
• Important 19th-century travel and political literature
• Written by one of the most significant female authors of the Romantic period
• Notable for its censorship history
• Sought after by collectors of:
• Travel literature
• Italian history
• Women writers
• Romantic-era political thought