1876 · New York
by Ware, F.E. [pseud. L.D. Shears]
New York: A. Burdette Smith's World of Fashion, 1876. Octavo. 174pp. Illustrated by Frank Beard the accomplish cartoonist (once dubbed "the father of the American cartoon). Mr. L.D. Shears, writing as F.E. Ware, incorporated Sheffield people and setting in her third novel, Little Brown Bess. According to the introduction, "In a New England village, the author of the following narrative was born and reared. The scenes and incidents pictured here are not sketches from the imagination but actual occurrences." The background is the imaginary town of Alderly, where John Dikeman and his wife, Sally, lived a marriage of disappointment. Their daughter, Bessie, flees to the city. Originally published in 1874 as a four-act drama, now reworked into a novel version. A very uncommon work bound in pictorial blue cloth stamped in black depicting Bessie within a decorative frame, spine gilt, corners and spine ends lightly worn, some darkening to spine and edges, peach colored endpapers, previous owner's name Guilford D. Eggleston in pencil.
(Inventory #: 022793)