Piozzi Baretti Joseph (1 results)

8vo, pp. [iv], 147, [1] advertisements, 8 advertisements; title page rather dusty and with a couple of small tears; in later 19th century half roan, rubbed but sound. First and only edition. This is a cruel satire on Hester Piozzi and her family, lampooning her as Lady Fantasma Tunskull and Gabriele Piozzi as Signor Squalici. It had not been published at the time of Baretti's death (in May 1789), and although his executors loyally burnt his papers, this piece seems to have been already in the press, and came into the world with no author declared. The true authorship was exposed by James L. Clifford in his biography (1941) 'The story is a queer mixture of farcical situations and obscene insinuations. Obviously not intended to offer any credible evidence as to actual occurrences in the Thrale household, it does provide some sidelights on the character of Mrs. Piozzi' (Clifford, p. 327).…