Thomas Hardy's pastoral novel
Under the Greenwood Tree blends a sweet rural romance with a nostalgic look at the modernization of village life. The novel was First published by Tinsley Brothers in 1872 in an edition of 500 copies, with Hardy's name not appearing on the title page. Originally titled
The Mellstock Quire, the story is inspired by a conflict between his grandfather's "string choir" of viols and voices in Stinsford church and a new vicar who was determined to replace the choir with an organ.
This copy was published in 1940 by The Macmillan Company, WITH WOOD ENGRAVINGS BY CLARE LEIGHTON WHO FLAT-SIGNED THE BOOK ON THE HALF TITLE PAGE. The signature has not been authenticated but is consistent with other signatures easily found online. I was able to find another copy of this 1940 book in which Clare Leighton also signed, but on a bookplate. That bookplate and signature are shown in the last listing photo. As seen, the signatures match. There are not any of these books signed by Leighton currently online for sale.
This copy is in VERY GOOD CONDITION. The dust jacket has edge wear with small chips and tears, light soiling, fully intact and now handsomely preserved in a mylar jacket. Clean brown cloth boards with lightly rubbed gilt spine titling. No interior marks in 236 clean and solidly bound pages.
A NICE AND SPECIAL COPY!!
From an online listing of a book signed by Clare Leighton: "Clare Veronica Hope Leighton (1899-1989) was an English author and wood engraver. Convinced that wood-engraving was an art for the masses rather than for an élite, Leighton worked independently of the private presses. Her popular success was founded on a disciplined technique, powerful compositions, and a gravity of content and sincerity of feeling that derives from artists such as Samuel Palmer. 'No one in our time', wrote Eric Gill in Gollancz's publicity leaflet for 'The Farmer's Year', 'has succeeded better in presenting the nobility of massiveness and breadth of life of the earth on a scale so grand.' The artist herself, who possessed a gift for friendship with people of all races and classes, was influential as a teacher, lecturer, and author" (n.b., from the ODNB). Leighton illustrated books written by many authors, including Emily Brontë, Thornton Wilder and Thomas Hardy, an author for whom she felt a special affinity."
Cliff's Books
B145