Molesworth, Mrs. “Us” An Old Fashioned Story.

London: Macmillan, 1885.
First edition. 8vo. Publisher’s orange cloth, titled and lavishly decorated in black and gilt to spine and front board, a trifle scuffed and soiled here and there but bright, clean and strong. Internally clean, black endpapers, strong and pretty, a very good copy. I’m a fan of Mrs. Molesworth, I think she wrote exceptionally well, and a lot, and should be a lot more highly thought of than she is. This delightful object however pushes the boundaries of my appreciation. It’s a typical peculiar bit of Victorian children’s tale where there’s an overabundance of baby talk, some glaring bits of contemporary social awfulness probably to be expected, if not appreciated, in a yarn about two absolutely appalling children stolen by “gypsies” with the intention of being turned into a sideshow attraction. Personally I’m into them being exhibited in a fairground, but I am of the lower orders and frankly Mrs. Molesworth wouldn’t have given me house room. It’s Mrs. Molesworth though, so I’m stanning it.