Spenser

Spenser — marelibri

Spenser's Fairie Queene.

1859réf. FB197 /Str shlfRed leather binding with gilt lettering and raised banding on the spine. All edges gilt. This book also has "Epithalamion" added. The Faery Queene is an English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. Books I–III were first published in 1590 then republished in 1596 together with books IV–VI. The Faerie Queene is notable for its form: at over 36000 lines and over 4000 stanzas it is one of the longest poems in the English language; it is also the work in which Spenser invented the verse form known as the Spenserian stanza. On a literal level the poem follows several knights as a means to examine different virtues and though the text is primarily an allegorical work it can be read on several levels of allegory including as praise or later criticism of Queen Elizabeth I. In Spenser's "Letter of the Authors" he states that the entire epic poem is "cloudily enwrapped in Allegorical devices" and that the aim of publishing The Faerie Queene was to "fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline". Spenser presented the first three books of The Faerie Queene to Elizabeth I in 1589 probably sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh. The poem was a clear effort to gain court favour and as a reward Elizabeth granted Spenser a pension for life amounting to £50 a year though there is no further evidence that Elizabeth I ever read any of the poem. This royal patronage elevated the poem to a level of success that made it Spenser's defining work. Edmund Spenser 1552/1553 – 13 January 1599 was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of nascent Modern English verse and is often considered one of the greatest poets in the English language. Though Spenser was well-read in classical literature scholars have noted that his poetry does not rehash tradition but rather is distinctly his. This individuality may have resulted to some extent from a lack of comprehension of the classics. Spenser strove to emulate such ancient Roman poets as Virgil and Ovid whom he studied during his schooling but many of his best-known works are notably divergent from those of his predecessors. The language of his poetry is purposely archaic reminiscent of earlier works such as The Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer and Il Canzoniere of Francesco Petrarca whom Spenser greatly admired. An Anglican and a devotee of the Protestant Queen Elizabeth Spenser was particularly offended by the anti-Elizabethan propaganda that some Catholics circulated. Like most Protestants near the time of the Reformation Spenser saw a Catholic church full of corruption and he determined that it was not only the wrong religion but the anti-religion. This sentiment is an important backdrop for the battles of The Faerie Queene. Spenser was called "the Poet's Poet" by Charles Lamb and was admired by John Milton William Blake William Wordsworth John Keats Lord Byron Alfred Tennyson and others. Among his contemporaries Walter Raleigh wrote a commendatory poem to The Faerie Queene in 1590 in which he claims to admire and value Spenser's work more so than any other in the English language. John Milton in his Areopagitica mentions "our sage and serious poet Spenser whom I dare be known to think a better teacher than Scotus or Aquinas". In the eighteenth century Alexander Pope compared Spenser to "a mistress whose faults we see but love her with them all." Routedge Warnes. hardcover

Martin Frost · Royaume-Uni146,00 £GB≈ 173,75 €

Spenser, Edmund; White, Ethelbert (Wood-engravings)Biblio.com

The Wedding Songs of Edmund Spenser being the Prothalamion & the Epithalamion; Printed from the best editions with Wood-cuts by Ethelbert White.

1923réf. 33330950Waltham Saint Lawrence Berkshire: Golden Cockerel Press 1923. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near fine. White Ethelbert. One of 350 copies on paper duodecimo size 49 pp. Edmund Spenser 1552/3 to 1599 is probably best known for his epic poem "The Faerie Queene" an ode to Elizabeth I. Even today he is considered one of the greatest poets of the English language. This work "The Wedding Songs" is a publication uniting two works which were published a year apart both dealing with love and romance. According to "Chanticleer" this is the first work of the Press to be illustrated with wood-engravings; however they go on to state that "there is no great feeling of harmony between the engravings and the type" p. 16. We find the three wood-engravings charming; Ethelbert White 1892-1972 was a founding member of the English Wood Engraving Society beginning his career with water colour but being introduced to wood-engraving in 1920. ___DESCRIPTION: Quarter linen white paper spine label with black lettering blue paper sides over boards fore- and bottom edges uncut the frontispiece one of three wood engravings and the only one in three colours rust green and yellow the other two only in rust; Caslon type on hand-made unbleached Arnold paper duodecimo size 7 3/8" by 4 1/2" pagination: 1-8 9-46 47 final wood-engraving 48 colophon 49 publisher's device; no. 329 of the 350 copies on paper per the bibliography; note that the colophon states 320 copies on paper there were an additional 25 copies on Japanese vellum. ___CONDITION: Volume near fine with clean boards perfectly straight corners with a hint of rubbing a strong square text block with solid hinges the interior is clean and bright and entirely free of prior owner markings; some sunning to the margins of the board edges and some offsetting and light foxing to the endpapers. ___CITATION: Chanticleer no. 14. ___POSTAGE: International customers please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA ILAB and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have we are here to help. Golden Cockerel Press hardcover