Written In English
Published in 1912 by Macmillan and Co., London, Francis Paget is a reverent biography of Francis Paget (1851–1911), the Bishop of Oxford, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, and former Dean of Christ Church. Written by Stephen Paget and J.M.C. Crum, with an introduction by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the book captures the life and impact of a major figure in the Anglican Church during a period of cultural and religious transformation in England. Paget’s leadership spanned a time when the Church of England was grappling with modernist thought and social change, and this biography was published shortly after his death to preserve his legacy of scholarship, faith, and steady leadership. Rooted in the early 20th-century tradition of honoring public figures through comprehensive biographies, this work offers an intimate glimpse into the religious and academic life of late Victorian and Edwardian England.
Condition:
This particular copy is bound in a striking custom half crimson Morocco leather binding with raised bands and gilt lettering on the spine, paired with matching deep red cloth boards and corners. The binding is not only visually impressive but would have likely been commissioned to honor the significance of the work, giving it a strong presence on any bookshelf. The text block edges have naturally aged to a warm yellow tone, with scattered foxing visible, particularly on the fore edges and within the preliminary pages, adding to the authentic antique character. Internally, the book is firm, with moderate but expected foxing throughout, especially around the frontispiece portrait. Structurally, the volume remains strong, with minimal shelfwear to the binding, bright gilt on the spine, and clean cloth boards. Overall, this is a handsomely preserved and finely bound biography that stands as both a historical document and a collectible piece—a wonderful snapshot of England’s religious and academic world at the dawn of the 20th century.
