Word-Book of Virginia Folk-Speech

Richmond, Virginia: W.E. Jones, 1899. First Edition. Octavo. 435 pages. The original papers of B.W. Green are in the Special Collections of the University of Virginia. Here is an extensive study of the sounds and unique meanings of Virginias everyday speech often varied between the planter class and the hill people. Green was a thorough lexicographer who also has a section on sayings in Virginia and folk songs. The major part of the book is a 400 page listing of folk words. Many of these were the words that often sounded strange to the ears of those outside the region but allow the reader to hear the words spoken not only in political speeches but in the literature of the late 19th century. A very scarce work. Ex-library but a good reading copy bound in library binding of green cloth, spine lettering gilt, shelf number on spine, pastedown has the bookplate of the library, with their stamp on the title page and numbers on the verso of title page, internally clean but lacks rear free endpaper. (Inventory #: 032778)