Autobiography and Personal Recollections of John B. Gough, with Twenty-six Years' Experience as a Public Speaker

Springfield: Bill, Nichols & Co., 1869. First Edition. Very good. First edition; 9 x 6; pp. [11], vi-xvii, [2], 20-552, [4]; textured, brick-red cloth over boards; title and decorations in gilt to spine and front board; illustrated with numerous engravings by George Cruikshank and other eminent artists, including portrait frontis; a bit of rubbing to tips of spine and corners; personal stamp of previous owner to first free leaf (Elijah Damon Bearce - a prominent businessman, Vice President of the Chelmsford Foundry Co. in North Chelmsford, Mass. ,and a well-known public figure in the 19th century); a few spots of foxing, mostly to first several leaves; very good condition.John B. Gough (1817 - 1886) was a renowned, British-American, temperance orator. Drawing on his personal experiences as a destitute alcoholic, who had lost his wife, child, and business to drinking, Gough turned his life around in 1842 and began travelling and lecturing on the evils of alcohol throughout the US, and later, through Great Britain, as well. He was quite successful and, eventually, expanded his lectures to cover other social subjects. He even appeared as a well-paid lecturer at various lyceums (voluntary associations, which sponsored series of lectures for their subscribers). It was said that throughout his life, Gough had given over 9600 speeches.