Folio Archives 417: The Life of Mr Jonathan Wild the Great by Henry Fielding - 1966
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The Life of Mr Jonathan Wild the Great by Henry Fielding - 1966
Jonathan Wild was a thief, brothel owner, fence, publican, highwayman, smuggler, swindler, kidnapper and many other things during his life from 1682 to 1725 when his nefarious career was ended on the gallows at Tyburn.
The satirist, Henry Fielding (1707 to 1754), has written a fanciful biography of the infamous Wild that takes considerable liberties with truth, but quite well describes the life of the criminal class 300 years ago. Some descriptive passages are rather boring (unless you are into descriptions of dress style) while others are active adventures or even rather bawdy. Fielding’s life overlapped with that of Wild, so he probably had some firsthand knowledge of his deeds.
This is quite a slim, small volume of 187 pages, of which the first dozen pages are taken up with the contents and a three-page introduction by R.M., who is not otherwise identified. The main charm of this book rests in the 22 integrated wood-engravings by Frank Martin.
The book is bound in linen blocked with a wrap-around brown and white pattern. It has a gilt printed black leather spine label that reads from bottom to top, white endpapers, and the top page edge are stained dark green. My copy has a tan slipcase (but I believe some copies had a grey slipcase) which measures 23.5x15.2cm.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Jonathan Wild was a thief, brothel owner, fence, publican, highwayman, smuggler, swindler, kidnapper and many other things during his life from 1682 to 1725 when his nefarious career was ended on the gallows at Tyburn.
The satirist, Henry Fielding (1707 to 1754), has written a fanciful biography of the infamous Wild that takes considerable liberties with truth, but quite well describes the life of the criminal class 300 years ago. Some descriptive passages are rather boring (unless you are into descriptions of dress style) while others are active adventures or even rather bawdy. Fielding’s life overlapped with that of Wild, so he probably had some firsthand knowledge of his deeds.
This is quite a slim, small volume of 187 pages, of which the first dozen pages are taken up with the contents and a three-page introduction by R.M., who is not otherwise identified. The main charm of this book rests in the 22 integrated wood-engravings by Frank Martin.
The book is bound in linen blocked with a wrap-around brown and white pattern. It has a gilt printed black leather spine label that reads from bottom to top, white endpapers, and the top page edge are stained dark green. My copy has a tan slipcase (but I believe some copies had a grey slipcase) which measures 23.5x15.2cm.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
