The Lay of St Aloys

A recent edition to my personal library has just arrived. What a delight it is!

The Lay of St Aloys is a large book printed in London in 1884 and illustrated with illuminated letters and engravings by Ernest Jessop. It is ostentibly by Thomas Ingoldsby but that is the nom-de-plume of an English clergyman, Richard Harris Barham. Barham wrote these parodies and the verses based on medieval manuscripts because he had the time and money to devote to their creation. 

This particular book has been disbound but it is complete. I love the small sketches and scribbles on each page - some of which are illustrated here - and the stories that they tell. In particular the irons and scissors illustration at the top of one of the pages caught my eye. Hope you enjoy seeing it too.