“NO MORE GRAPHIC ACCOUNT EXISTS OF ANY AGE”: FROISSART’S CHRONICLES OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN, AND THE ADJOINING COUNTRIES, 1868, WITH 70 COLOR LITHOGRAPHS HEIGHTENED BY HAND

FROISSART, John. Chronicles of England, France, Spain, and the Adjoining Countries, from the Latter Part of the Reign of Edward II to the Coronation of Henry IV. Newly Translated from the French Editions by Thomas Johnes. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1868. Two volumes. Thick octavo, contemporary full red morocco, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines and boards, boards with blue and white morocco onlays, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.

Later edition of Johnes’ celebrated translation of Froissart’s important history of 14th-century Europe, including a Life of Froissart, an essay on his works, and a critical look at his Chronicles. With 70 color lithographs reproduced from miniatures in Froissart manuscript editions and heightened by hand; also with 116 in-text woodcuts and three color title pages.

"Froissart might be called the great interviewer of the Middle Ages. The newspaper correspondent of modern times has scarcely surpassed this medieval collector of intelligence. He traveled extensively in the various countries of Europe; he conversed with gentlemen of rank everywhere; and he had the remarkable knack of persuading those about him to divulge all he wanted to know. He learned the details of battles from both sides and from every point of view. He delighted in the minutest affairs of every cavalry skirmish, of the capture of every castle, and of every brave action and gallant deed. He lived from 1337 to about 1410, and wrote chiefly of contemporaneous events. The Chronicles are universally considered as the most vivid and faithful picture we have of events in the 14th century. As a picture of the most favorable side of chivalry, the work has no equal" (Adams, Manual of Historical Literature, 334-35). "There has never been any difference of opinion on the distinctive merits of this great work. It presents a vivid and faithful drawing of the things done in the 14th-century. No more graphic account exists of any age. No historian has drawn so many and such faithful portraits" (Britannica). The Chronicles were originally circulated in manuscript form, with the first printed version appearing around 1498 in Paris. The first edition in English, undertaken at the suggestion of Henry VIII, was translated by John Berners and published in 1523-25. Johnes' modern translation first appeared 1803-05.

Faint marginal dampstain to first few leaves of volume I, not affecting images or text, interiors otherwise fine, color lithographs bright and fine. Decorated bindings with expert repairs to joints and morocco lightly age-darkened, beautiful and near-fine.