c1970 The Sonnets of William Shakespeare

Description

Publishers' Original Binding, With Slipcase

A delightful publication of the sonnets of William Shakespeare, with the publisher's original slip case.

Considered a continuation of the sonnet tradition that swept through Renaissance Italy and was introduced to sixteenth century England by Thomas Wyatt, Shakespeare's sonnets were considered a significant departure from the typical content of the sonnet, exploring themes including lust, homoeroticism, misogyny and infidelity.

With the inscription 'Audrey - August 24th 1957' to the front free endpaper, and 'to Audrey, from David' to the following front endpaper.

The Audrey referred to is Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, an extravagant socialite and renowned beauty of the Edwardian period. Impeccably connected, Pleydell-Bouverie was also the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, and rumoured to be a lover of King Edward VIII. A sparkling figure of fashionable society, her friends included Nancy Mitford, Coco Chanel, Winston Churchill, and Fred Astaire.

This work is from the sale of Pleydell-Bouverie’s library at Julians Park, Hertfordshire. She purchased the home in 1940, redesigning the interior and amassing an impressive library, featuring many examples of her own bookbinding.