Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Nice book in great condition. Pages in excellent condition. Very small amount of age marking but pages are bright and clear. All maps present. No notes or highlighting. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> The History of the Isle of Wight which was published in 1781 was a handsome work suitable for the library of a cultivated country gentleman. Its title page bore no author’s name; the loyal dedication to King George III was signed “Richard Worsley”. Although it has been universally referred to since as Sir Richard Worsley’s history a glance at the preface shows that this baronet made no claim to authorship. He described himself as “Editor” and made it clear that in preparing for publication materials collected by his grandfather Sir James and his father Sir Thomas he had acted from motives of piety and respect. The Worsleys had been closely involved in the Island’s affairs since the Reformation but Sir James and Sir Thomas lived on the mainland. Sir Richard the seventh baronet (1751-1805) completed Appuldurcombe House the partly-built family residence which had lain unfinished since about 1711 and resided for considerable periods in the Island. He sat in Parliament first for Newport and then for Newtown not con- tinuously between 1774 and 1801 and was twice governor of the Island; but his career was more notable for his political diplo- matic travelling and art-collecting activities than for any deep and specific interest in the Island’s antiquities. The History was brought out “as the discharge of a filial duty” (OS)