Decision: A Tale

2nd edition following first publication in the preceding year. 274pp. Full calf’s leather binding with gilded rules and decoration, four- panelled, decorated spine with black spine label and gilt lettering. Marbled text block edges and endpapers. 12mo. Boards a tad worn at edges, dry around spine joints and backstrip a little faded. Strong binding and internally neat, clean and tidy barring the occasional small, mild mark. A very good, small volume. Publishers’ records indicate that the first edition ran to a 1,000 copies, and this second edition a year later to 500 copies (Butts, p. 75). Barbara Hofland, nee Wreaks, the daughter of a Sheffield manufacturer was raised by a maiden aunt before marrying T Bradshawe Hoole, a local merchant. Upon his early death she published a volume of poems which attracted over 2000 subscribers – enabling her to open a boarding-school in Harrogate. With her second husband, the painter Thomas Hofland, she moved to London and began publishing novels, including a series representing the moral virtues: Integrity, Patience, Self-Denial, Humility, Energy, Fortitude, and this one, Decision. She was a popular author of the early 19th century although many of her books are now hard to find in contemporary editions.