Wear on the edges and has some library markings. Please look at pictures to help or message us. Shipped the next business day! Additional Details ------------------------------ Product description: Excerpt from The Life of a SportsmanMY design and object in writing this work was not merely to depict the life of a sportsman, in the general - perhaps, with some persons, unfavourable - acceptation of that term, but, taking higher ground, to portray the character of an English gentleman attached to the sports and pastimes of his country; and, likewise, to give a sketch of a country gentleman's family, in as close imitation as pos sible of those of the best description, with which it has been my good fortune to become acquainted. In fact, in many instances, the imitation, or resemblance, is so close, as not to be doubtful to many as to who are the original parties; and they themselves cannot be displeased with my selection, when they are intended to be displayed as examplars worthy of being followed by others. The plan, or outline, of this half-true, half-fictitious story, is soon told. It is, as has already been observed, descriptive of a country gentleman, of large fortune and highly connected, having two sons and two daughters. He himself is a sportsman, but only to a certain extent; that is to say, he does not aspire to fox-hunting, but keeps a first-rate pack of harriers, and is also a good shot. His eldest son has nothing sporting in his constitution, but has all the good qualities that adorn and exalt our nature, and for which, of course, full credit is given him. The hero of my tale is the younger son, who, differing in tastes from his brother, enters into the sports of the field at a very early age, and becomes a thorough sportsman, in the legitimate sense of that, often wrongly applied, term. How far I have succeeded in portraying him as such, my readers must be my judges; I can only say, I have made him follow, as nearly as I was able, in the footsteps of those who, within my time and knowledge, have become the most eminent sportsmen of their day, both by "flood and field." It would be unfaithful to nature, and, therefore, unworthy of my pen, were I to represent my young hero as totally guiltless of those common failings to which inexperienced youth is, for the most part, liable; but I have taken especial care to keep him clear of all vicious propensities which disgrace the gentleman and the christian.