Author: HOOKE, Nathaniel
Title: The Roman History
Description: 1766. HOOKE, N[athaniel]. THE ROMAN HISTORY, from the Building of Rome to the Ruin of the Commonwealth. Illustrated with Maps and other Plates. Vol. I(-IV). London: Printed for J. and R. Tonson; G. Hawkins; and T. Longman. 1766(-1771). Volumes 1 and 2 have "Fourth edition" printed on t.p. Volume 3 is dated 1767. Volume 4 was printed G. Hawkins, W. Strahan, J. and F. Rivington, W. Johnston, T. Longman, T. Cadell and R. Baldwin. Illustrated with 32 engraved plates, most folded, of which 18 are maps. Four 4to. volumes: [4],xlvi,xlvi,634; xxxii,xxxiii,668; vi,694,[2] publisher's "advertisemeent" and errata; vii,[3],464 pp.+ [75] pp. index to all four volumes. Edgeworn and rubbed eighteenth century bindings of full calf, with red morocco label and gilt-tooling to spine, all edges stained red; each volume is missing a second label which supplied the volume number. Although the frontis. in vol. 1 is lightly foxed, and the frontis. in vol. 3 is creased and nearly detached, the plates and maps are mostly very clean and whole. The text leaves are also quite clean, showing only occasional light foxing, a little heavier in just a few places, and with a few gatherings which have slightly darkened. Joints are cracked on all volumes; one board is detached, another is very nearly detached, and the rest are attached by the sewing cords. This is a very good, reading copy of Hooke's frequently printed history, which long held a high place in historical literature. Alexander Pope, to whom Hooke dedicated the first volume of this work, suggested that Hooke was one of only two contemporary prose-writers whose works were worth consulting by an English lexicographer. Dr. Johnson remarked that he "was a virtuous man, as his history shows." (DNB). .

Keywords: