LES MISERABLES A Novel [Fantine; Cosette; Marius; The Idyll of the Rue Plumet and the Epic of the Rue Saint Denis; Jean Valjean] In the Translation by Lascelles Wraxall Authorized by the Author. Printed With a New Introduction by André Maurois

5 volumes. LIMITED EDITION, SIGNED BY THE ILLUSTRATOR, Lynd Ward; being one of 1500 hand-numbered sets designed by Peter Beilenson. Each volume illustrated throughout with woodcuts by Lynd Ward, these include a large headpiece on each titlepage, a full-page frontis for each of the five books and numerous cuts of various sizes throughout the text, those in each book printed in one of five different colours. Tall quarto, publisher's original black cloth, the spines with burnt orange cloth labels lettered and decorated with a bust in gilt, top edges dyed, in the original glassine wrappers and with the publisher's single slipcase which holds all five volumes. The slipcase being of black cloth-covered boards with a printed paper label. A especially fine set, the books pristine and as new, even the rarely preserved glassine is in fine shape with out with only a hint of darkening at the spine panels and extremely minor edge wear and a few tiny chips, the slipcase fine with just a few little abrasions to the corners and label.

Edizione: an impressive production for the l.e.c. with fine woodcuts by lynd ward, this set is also in exemplary condition. the text is that of the english translation which was in three volumes by sir lascelles wraxall and which was approved by the author. in this printing hugo's arrangement of the work in 5 parts, and his subdivisions into books and chapters were restored. the five volume format makes this monumental story approachable and far more convenient.<br> ‘the novel is the story of jean valjean, who stole a loaf of bread to feed some hungry children and paid for his act by years of misfortune. it is a story filled with the emotions of life. the principal characters are jean valjean, javert the detective, marius the student and lover, cosette who became the foster daughter of jean valjean and the thénardiers with their genius for evil. robert louis stevenson said of it, that “there are few books in the world that can be compared with it”.’ time has proven stevenson's words correct, as this epic is now considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.