Personal Memoirs of Major Richardson ... As Connected with the Singular Oppression of That Officer While in Spain by Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans.
Place Published: Montreal
Publisher: Armour & Ramsay
Date Published: 1838
Edition: 1st Edition
Binding: Hard Cover
SCARCE SIGNED COPY OF HIS FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED IN CANADA
First Edition signed, Scarce. 1838. Montreal, Armour & Ramsay. This is the first of his works to be published in Canada. 8-1/4 x 5-1/4 inches. (6), [5]-145, [1] errata, iv. New leather spine and leather corner tips on original marbled boards. Spine has 5 bands, red label with gilt type and 5 gilt decorative symbols. Inscribed by Richardson on the first blank after the end paper to a military Major (from the Author). On the same page, another previous owner in 1939 noting his father also owned this book. Inside page with some sporadic light foxing, otherwise in very good+ condition. A very nice copy.
Civil war had broken out in Spain between the legitimate monarch, Queen Isabella, and the pretender to the throne, Don Carlos. The British Government, in 1835, while remaining officially neutral, sanctioned the recruitment of a British Legion.
From 1834 to 1837 Richardson served the British legion and had been wounded in the Spanish campaign, was promoted a major in 1836, and was awarded a knighthood in the military Order of St. Ferdinand for his courage in battle.
The British legion, a volunteer force employed in support of the Spanish royalists and commanded by General De Lacy Evans. This is one of four works Richardson wrote relating to his experiences in Spain. The three book and newspaper articles continue in greater detail the account of the rupture between Richardson and General Evans.
In his first book account Journal of the Movements of the British Legion (1836) he defended the Legion and its commander, General Sir De Lacy Evans.
Richardson heard that he had been passed over by General Evans in a list of promotions and decorations. Less than a year later he published a second book Movements of the British Legion with Strictures on the Course of Conduct Pursued by Lieutenant-General Evans (1837) adding a section to the book bitterly attacking Evans as a cowardly and incompetent commander. Richardson followed this up with a second attack, in his final book, The Personal Memoirs of Major Richardson as connected with the singular oppression of that officer while in Spain by Lieutenant-General Sir De Lacy Evans, (1838 ) published in Montreal after Richardson had returned to Canada (our signed copy we are offering here). The final assault was made in a satirical story in which Evans is the thinly-disguised villain - Jack Brag in Spain, never published in book form but published serially in the early eighteen-forties in Richardson's Brockville newspaper, The New Era.
TPL 2209, Lande 2130, Casey I 1637, Dionne III 346, Gagnon I 3016, Morley 45.
John Richardson was the first Canadian-born novelist to achieve international recognition. He was an army officer, author, newspaperman, and office holder; b. 4 Oct. 1796 probably at Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake). The author, John Richardson, whose previous novels were "Ecarte" and "Frascati". In 1812, at age 15, he volunteered with 41st Foot Regiment and took part in several battles near Lake Erie. The regiment fought alongside Indian natives who were led by Tecumseh, of whom Richardson was very impressed. It was his experience fighting with Tecumseh and his warriors that he was able to put to use in "Wacousta" along with his knowledge of the sieges of Detroit and Fort Michilmackinac. After a year's military service in the West Indies, Richardson spent twenty years in London writing novels and poetry which included Wacousta, Tecumseh and The Canadian Brothers. He served with Spanish royalist forces from 1834 to 1837. The Times of London sent Richardson to report on the Rebellion of 1837, but fired him for his despatches praising Lord Durham. He edited a newspaper in Brockville 1840-1842, New Era and The Canadian Loyalist, 1843-1844. Richardson served as superintendent of police on the Welland Canal, 1845-1846, until the post was abolished. He went to New York in the 1850's and died there in poverty.
Very Good+. Item #4205
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