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293 pp. 4½x7½".  Uncut. 

Book signed: "Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1929. A rare old novel." in pencil on front pastedown and "Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hyde Park. Very fine copy" in ink on facing free endpaper.

British author Richard Cumberland (1732-1811) wrote plays, novels, poems, essays, odes, etc. Among his works were a collection of essays entitled “The Observer” (1785) and “The Jew” (1794). It is generally agreed that Cumberland was sympathetic to the plight of the Jew and the existence of anti-Semitism in England and that his goal in writing “The Jew” was to promote tolerance of Jews. Cumberland’s last novel, “John De Lancaster,” seemed to do just the opposite. In 1809, Sir Walter Scott reviewed “John de Lancaster,” in “Quarterly Review.” In part, “The descendants of Israel were heretofore favourites with Mr. Cumberland. The characters of Abraham Abrahams in the ‘Observer,’ of Sheva in the ‘Jew,’ even of Nicolas Pedrosa in the lively tale which bears his name, are honourable and able testimonies of his efforts to stem popular prejudice in favour of a people, degraded because they are oppressed, and ridiculed because they are degraded. Apparently, however, he hath repented him of his inclination towards the Jews, for not only do this same Mrs Ap Owen and her son exhibit characters the most base, malicious, and detestable, but their descent from the stock of Abraham is thrown at their heads by all who speak of them, and is obviously held out as one source at least of their enormities.