Debates in Parliament by Samuel Johnson, LL.D. In Two Volumes. London: Printed for John Stockdale, 1787, 8vo.
FIRST EDITION in book form of Samuel Johnson's satirical account of politics in British parliament which has been called "his first major literary project."
-------------------
Johnson’s Debates in Parliament, a major literary project, spanned from November 1740 to February 1743. Edward Cave, publisher of the Gentleman’s Magazine, cleverly satisfied public curiosity by disguising parliamentary proceedings as a fictional account, akin to a new voyage in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver’s Travels. Johnson took over reporting a year before Walpole's fall, writing 54 monthly instalments totalling nearly half a million words over three years. To avoid arrest, debates weren’t published during Parliament sessions, and Johnson rarely attended in person, crafting speeches rather than reporting them. The work showcased his adept portrayal of speakers and his own thoughts on liberty, morality, and representative government. Unbeknownst to many, his speeches were even compared to the oratory of Demosthenes and Cicero.
Size: 138 x 214 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[xvii (ff), pp.1-394]; [ii (ff), pp.1-516]
Contemporary uniform tree calf bindings, rubbed and worn with a little loss to the foot of each spine. Rubbing to tender joints with all boards attached. No shelf lean. Headcap to second volume partially detached but present. With the scarce 'List of Fictitious Characters' and 'References to the Speakers' leaves. This example without the Works title pages as sometimes found, also bound without any advertisements. Old ex library ink stamp to both sides of the title pages, the endpapers, and at the foot of the final leaves in both volumes with attached library bookplates to the front pastedowns. Some dampstaining throughout with the text blocks mildly toned. No loss to text. Some pencil marks to the final few leaves in the second volume, none obscuring any text. Some dark stains to endpapers with edge toning as commensurate with the calf bindings.
[ESTC T83965].
