Gesta Romanorum: or, Entertaining Moral Stories invented by the Monks as a Fire-side Recreation; and Commonly applied in their Discourses from the Pulpit; Whence the most Celebrated of our own Poets and others from the Earliest Times, have Extracted Their Plots. Translated from the Latin with Preliminary Observations and Copious Notes. 2-vol. set (Complete)

London: C. and J. Rivington, 1824. First edition in this translation. Hardcover. poor to vg. Small octavo. CXLVIII, 388, [8], 545, [1]pp. Original full calf with gold lettering and tooling on spines, and gilt borders along covers. Dentelles. All paper edges marbled. Marbled endpapers. Despite its name, "The Deeds of the Romans" is a collection of 181 tales of Greeks, Romans, Britons, Biblical characters, and dwellers of lands existing only in the fancy of the story-teller, drawn from European and oriental sources. It is the source of many important literary works by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and others. Both volumes have their front and rear covers detached. Head and tail of spines partly chipped. Some rubbing with abrasion on spines. Bindings in overall poor, interior in fine condition. (Inventory #: 30852)