Description

9 Sporting Novels plus Analysis of the Hunting by R S Surtees

It was the Golden Age of foxhunting and the English sporting gentleman was in his vital prime. Robert Smith Surtees (1805 – 1864), just such a man, became the chronicler of his times. His novels raucously unveil the half-forgotten country life of England between the Reform Bills: horse-dealers and minxy adventuresses compete for the lolly of lecherous Earls; spanking great hill foxes outpace packs of hounds as likely to belong to a grocer as a Duke; we find Jorrocks and James Pigg, Lucy Glitters and Facey Romford, Soapey Sponge and sound Tom Scott – all bucketing across the pages of English history. This collection includes the complete 9 novels and Analysis of the Hunting Field- If there are things that in the hunting field you have thought, but never articulated, you will probably read them here. Despite it’s rather forensic title this is a fatherly romp through the key archetypes of the hunting Field. As Lord Denham says in his introduction – this should be required reading for anyone connected with hunting. From the right sort of Master to the wrong sort, from the hunting nobleman to the whip and from the blacksmith to the braggart with horses to sell, we find the people are much the same as today. It’s a book full of intensely quotable pieces of Surteesian pith “more people are flattered into virtue than were ever bullied out of vice” is one that the shouting MFH should mark well. But it is also full of a quiet, educative intimacy with the hunting “a hat high in the air is worth a hundred halloos” says the author. His affectionate pictures of the sorts of hunting characters he rightly loves are a sheer delight to read. Take the priceless Peter Pigskin, 'clean shirt, clean shave and a guinea in his pocket' – one part postilion, one part publican and one hundred percent foxhunter. This superbly illustrated complete collection includes;

• Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities (1984), 291pp;
• Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour (1981), 408pp;
• Handley Cross (1983), 550+20pp;
• Mr. Facey Romford's Hounds (1982), 405pp;
• Plain or Ringlets (1986), 406pp;
• Ask Mamma (1983), 412pp;
• Hawbuck Grange (1988), 265+8 (Surtees Society Edition);
• Hillingdon Hall or The Country Squire (1985), 519pp;
• Young Tom Hall (1987), 359+10pp (Surtees Society Edition)
• Analysis of the Hunting Field (265 x 170mm) (1989), 326+11pp

Features;

• Publisher Folio Society, London;
• Red Cloth Hardback in Gold Slipcase
• Superbly Illustrated in colour by Leech, Phiz, Wildrake, Heath, Jellicoe etc.
• Size 230 x 150mm, 12.5kg

Condition: Very Good – Good Slipcases, No Inscriptions, Excellent Copies

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