1894 Rare Book set - Sidonia the Sorceress and Mary Schweidler, The Amber Witch.
(Description)
Author: William Meinhold. Translated by Lady Wilde. Mary Schweidler.
Title: Sidonia the Sorceress: The Supposed Destroyer of the Whole Reigning Ducal House of Pomerania / Mary Schweidler The Amber Witch: The Most Interesting Trial For Witchcraft Ever Known - Two Volumes set.
Publisher: London, Reeves and Turner, 1894. Complete set of 2 volumes.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7.5" X 5".
Pages: xxiv-400,xii-425 pages + publisher's catalog.
Binding: Very good original full-cloth binding (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, and clean, rare light foxing, toning, or staining - as shown, upper edge of rear publisher's catalog chipped/opened roughly - as shown).
Estimate: (USD 350 - USD 500).
The book: "Sidonia the Sorceress" is a significant work in the genre of witchcraft literature, purporting to chronicle the destructive influence of a historical figure accused of witchcraft. This narrative blends elements of Gothic horror with a detailed historical account of witch trials and their impact on society. The second volume also includes "The Amber Witch," another narrative by Meinhold, which is a fictional account of witch persecution but presented as a historical document, adding depth to the overarching theme of witchcraft and its historical consequences.
The author: William Meinhold, a German pastor and author, is known for his detailed and atmospheric writing style, which lends a sense of authenticity to his narratives of the supernatural.
The translator: Lady Wilde, mother of Oscar Wilde, was a respected translator and writer, known for her work in promoting Irish folklore and legend. Her translation preserves the intense and dramatic tone of Meinhold's original text.