Jones, Stephen.

A New Biographical Dictionary: Containing a brief account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons and remarkable characters in every age and nation.

Fourth edition (corrected). London, Robinson / Longman and Rees / Wallis, 1802. 8.5 x 13.5cm. Unpaginated. Hardcover / Contemporary, full morocco with gilt lettering on spine and gilt tooling on board edges. Marbled endpapers and all edges gilt. Very minor signs of wear to spine and corners, otherwise excellent condition. Binding solid and text clear and bright. Previous owner’s name on title page: “Susan Courteney, died 10 June 1808”.

Very interesting comments are coming with these biographies. The publication comes across like a miniature book with Jones personal wit expanding its measure.
With little space, he tries to pinpoint the Character of each person with one quote or quip.

On the Earl of Rochester he writes for example:

″Rochester (John Wilmot, earl of) a very licentious wit and poet in the reign of Charles II, born 1648, died 1680. Mr.Walpole neatly calls him “a man whom the Muses were fond to inspire, and ashamed to avow”.

Stephen Jones (1763–1827) was an English literary editor, best known for his revision of the Biographia Dramatica. His New Biographical Dictionary ran to eight editions. In the Preface to this fourth edition, Jones explains that he has revised and corrected the earlier editions by adding one hundred new articles, and editing articles that were thought by “judicious friends” to be “of a length disproportionate to their importance”. The fourth edition also presents for the first time the birth places of the persons recorded. As Jones notes, “the expense of time and labour bestowed on this object is not to be conceived by any but those who have experienced the like”.

• Keywords: 19th Century · 19th Century – Rare · Biography · Biography – Rare · Books on Books Rare · British History · Dictionary · Early Dictionary · History – Rare · Reference
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 91179AB

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