First Printing. Hardcover with unclipped dust jacket. Publisher's full green cloth, gilt (blue) lettering and decoration on spine, gilt (blue) medallion on cover. Fore-edge deckle. 8vo. 489 pp. The volume is in excellent condition, unmarked and seemingly unopened. The dust jacket (now in Mylar) has a minor dampstain on the rear panel, not affecting the covers or any pages, and moderate chipping on the bottom edge, particularly at the heel of the spine. NEAR FINE/VERY GOOD. Brooks is the author of a series of historical works following the development of American letters. This volume covers the American literary scene from approximately 1840 to about 1890, including Walt Whitman, Herman Melville, Mark Twain, Horace Greeley, Sidney Lanier, Bret Harte, John Muir and others. . 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall