1823 Ancient Mysteries Described, Especially the English Miracle Plays, Founded on Apocryphal New Testament Story, Extant Among the Unpublished Manuscripts in the British Museum; Including Notices of Ecclesiastical Shows, the Festivals of Fools and Asses - The English Boy-Bishop The Descent into Hell - The Lord Mayor's Show The Guildhall Giants - Christmas Carols, &c.

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Publishers' Original Binding

First edition. 

In the publisher's original printed cloth binding.

Illustrated with engravings on copper and wood, including a frontispiece, one folding plate, two further plates and numerous vignettes. Collated, complete. 

A fascinating analysis of unpublished liturgical plays, the manuscripts of which are held by the British Museum. Includes stories of the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ, and other Biblical miracles. Hone also discusses the ecclesiastical shows in which these plays were historically performed.

William Hone was an English writer, satirist and bookseller, noted for his victorious court battle against government censorship in 1817 which marked a turning point in the fight for British press freedom.