1818 Childe Harold's Pilgrimage Canto the Fourth

Description

First Edition, Rebound, Scarce

This copy is a scarce variant, with the dedication occupying pages iii-xiii. As stated by Wise (pp.67) 'The text is identical with that of the published issues, but is compressed into a smaller compass.. The sheet is an early, or proof, copy preserved by chance'. Wise believes that due to the demand of a second issue was so high that 'pending the delivery of the Third Issue of the printers, every available scrap that could be employed was made use of'. Wise had heard of three specimens of the work, two in the hands of American collectors and one in England. All are rebound. Matching all issue points for Wise's first edition second issue (pp.61) including the new paragraph of seven lines to page 160, 'Esortazione' to the final line of page 155. As stated by Wise to page 64, 'The second and fifth issues have no advertisements sheets' (pp.64). Therefore, this copy does not have advertisements. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage is one of Lord Byron's best known works. It was a narrative poem in four parts, which was published between 1812 and 1818. The poem describes the travels of a young man who seeks distraction in foreign lands, due to his own disillusion with life. The disillusioned sentiment echoes the contemporary feeling of a generation who were weary following the wars of the post-Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. This is the fourth and final canto of the poem, which has been written in Spenserian stanzas, comprising of eight iambic pentameter lines followed by an alexandrine line A scarce variant copy of this famous poem.