1819-1823 Don Juan

Description

Early Edition, First Edition, Leather Binding, Rebound

Four books in two volumes, containing cantos I-XI. Uniformly bound in full embossed calf with gilt detail. 'Don Juan' is Lord Byron's satirical epic poem and an important feat of Romantic poetry. The character of Don Juan is based on the legendary Spanish libertine figure, but unlike other folk tales, Byron portrays him as a man easily seduced by women, rather than a womanizer. Byron's poem is written in ottava rima across sixteen cantos. Upon the publication of the first cantos in 1819 the poem was criticized as immoral. This set comprising of: Cantos I and II, a new edition, published 1819. Cantos III, IV and V, the first edition, published in 1821. With the half title page. Cantos VI-VII-and VIII, the first edition, published in 1823. Cantos IX-X-and XI, the first edition, published 1823. A small ink inscription from the previous owner to the front blank of volume two, and a bookplate to the front paste-downs of both volumes. Lacking the publisher's advertisements.