Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry. A New Edition With An Introduction, Explanatory Notes and Numerous Illustrations by Harvey, Gilbert, Phiz, Franklin MacManus and other Artists of Excellence. Two Volumes. Dublin: William Curry, 1843. Pp (1) xxiv, 426; (2) 430. Original crimson half morocco over marbled boards, spine compartments lettered in gilt, top edges in gilt. Light scuffing along inner hinge of volume one, otherwise a nice bright set, in a fine binding.

Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry by William Carleton is a vivid and influential collection of tales that portrays the lives, customs, and struggles of rural Irish people in the early 19th century. Blending humour, tragedy, and keen social observation, Carleton-himself born into peasant life–offers an authentic depiction of Irish folklore, superstitions, and the harsh realities of poverty and oppression under British rule.

The stories range from comic sketches of village life to darker tales of suffering and resilience, making the work both an important cultural record and a compelling literary achievement.

First published in the 1830s, it remains a classic of Irish literature.