A complete set of the Lee sisters' novellas, written between 1797 and 1805 and heavily inspired by Chaucer's classic tales. The stories are original gothic and medieval romances, which make use of Chaucer's structure and moral tone. While both sisters are credited, it was Harriet who wrote the vast majority of the project. Famously, Lord Byron appreciated Harriet's The German's Tale so much, he adapted it into the gothic melodrama Werner in 1822.
In very good condition with light chipping along the very edges of the boards, an ink inscription to the reverse of the front free endpaper in Vol I, and light foxing in places across both volumes. The board faces, and the spines especially, are very clean and attractive. Frontispiece and title page engravings to both volumes. Half-bound in contemporary green leather with marbled boards, raised spine bands, gilt compartments with titles and botanical ornamentation, marbled endpapers and a marbled block edge. Uniformly 17 x 11 cm. xix, pp. 455; 518.
