The Handling of Words (1927, first thus)
An early edition of Vernon Lee's studies in literary psychology
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
First thus (first printing in The Week-end Library). Hardback, red cloth binding with gilt titling to spine and gilt author's signature to upper board. 17.5 × 11.5cm, 315pp + ads.
A seminal collection of essays and lectures by Vernon Lee as she makes the (then) innovative leap into literary psychology and reader-response criticism. The core philosophy being the reader as co-creator where she posits the text does not exist in a vacuum, the author's words trigger and manipulate the pre-existing memories, emotions, and experiences in the reader's mind. Other theories include literary empathy, constructive weight (where minor structural details can carry psychological gravity which can alter how the reader interprets the rest of the narrative.
The book blends theoretical lectures with granular, clinical experiments. Lee selects random 500-word samples from major stylists (like Henry James, Thomas Hardy, and Walter Pater) and dissects their exact grammar, syntax, and word choices to demonstrate precisely how their style mechanically affects a reader's mind.
Condition
This copy is in very good condition. There is some marking to the front board but the contents are in good, clean condition. Previous owner's neat name to front pastedown.
US: Books are currently zero-rated for duty (as of June 2026), so the price shown is the price you pay. EU: Where possible, we will send out DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) but this is not currently available for Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, or Slovenia, which will be sent DDUP (Delivered Duty Unpaid).
Price
£40.00
