Shabby Sunday is a meme created by Mischenko at ReadRantRock&Roll with the aim of sharing some vintage or older books in our collections. Please check out this wonderful blog when you have a chance!
Today I’m sharing probably the oldest book I have in my collection, The Modern Griselda by Maria Edgeworth. She was during her time quite a popular author and this book, originally published in 1804, was in its 4th edition by 1819, the edition that I have. This is (shocker, I know) not a speculative fiction book!
The Modern Griselda is a story about a marriage and how fast it fell apart. I admit I have only read bits of this story, even though it is quite short, because the pages of my book are so delicate (I suppose I could get a newer edition or find it online to read at this point though, haha). So, I’m sure there are themes and subtext I’m leaving out. But essentially by the end they get into a huge argument about straws (of all things) and the wife decides to leave the husband and is shocked when his response is basically ‘whatever, do what you want’.
Marie Edgeworth herself was a fascinating character and it’s worth checking out her history. Like most people, she was multi-faceted and had very strong opinions, and perhaps some of them a bit contradictory. She may be best known to modern readers as the author of Belinda, a novel which Jane Austen references in Northanger Abbey.
I admit I picked up this book mostly because of its age! I love old things and I love books so why not old books? Best of both worlds! I think it’s in remarkably good condition for its age and was obviously in someone’s collection for some time, virtually undisturbed. And now it sits on one of my shelves looking quite pretty if I do say so myself. 😉
Way Too Fantasy 
So lovely! I’d be proud to have that in my collection. Well done for finding it.
Thanks! I think I must have been pretty lucky to find it. 🙂
That’s beautiful!
Thank you!
That book is so beautiful! It looks expensive😁
Thanks! It wasn’t that expensive when I got it, not really sure of its worth. I think book value has less to do with age and more to do with demand? Lol
Whoa! That’s super old. 😍 Excellent find! I’m amazed how good it looks for its age! I’ve never read it and you’ve piqued my interest. I have to admit that I’ve purchased old books too just because they’re old lol. I love the covers! Thanks for linking back. 😉
Old books for the sake of old books club! 🤣
Old books are just wonderful – that looks like a good one!
They *are* wonderful!
What a lovely book, and holy crap it’s 200 years old! I want an old book that is really cool!!!!
Thanks! Right?! It’s in such good shape for it too! I love old books, they have character. 🙂
Lovely. I don’t really have a lot of old books although I did have the complete collection of Charles Dickens, bound and with some beautiful plates.
Lynn 😀
Those sound fantastic!
Oooh that is a cool edition!! Tho the story doesn’t great haha 🙂 great pictures!
Hah! I mainly got it because it was old and pretty looking. 🙂