PBA Galleries

Three volumes. (8vo) later brown half morocco over marbled boards, gilt lettering, t.e.g., others untrimmed; marbled endpapers. Half titles present. First Edition in English

The first book by Mary Ann Evans, who would later become famous for her writings under the pseudonym George Eliot. Strauss’ groundbreaking, radical biography of Jesus, Das Leban Jesu, was widely supported in young intellectual circles in England, though several years after its first appearance in German in 1835 there remained no edition in English. Encouraged by numerous friends, Evans - then a 25-year-old aspiring writer who was not fluent in German -  agreed to take on the task of translation, which took her two years, and she was paid a mere £20.00 for her efforts. Though the financial compensation was meager, Evans was rewarded by Strauss’ high praise for the translation in his preface.