Pickwick Papers

By Charles Dickens.

When artist Robert Seymour proposed to publishers Chapman and Hall a series of engravings featuring Cockney sporting life, with accompanying text published in monthly installments. After they were turned down by several writers finally asked 24-year-old Charles Dickens to provide the text. Dickens accepted and argued successfully that the text should be foremost and the engravings should complement the story. Seymour, an established artist resisted but finally agreed. On completion of the engravings for the second monthly part Seymour, who had a history of mental health problems, committed suicide.

NY. Harrow and Heston Classic Reprint. (1836) 942 pages.