1819 Rare Book - The Scottish Gaelic Poems of Ossian by James Macpherson.
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(Description)
Author: James Macpherson, translator.
Title: The Poems of Ossian Translated by James Macpherson, Esq. To which are prefixed a Preliminary Discourse, and Dissertations on the Æra and Poems of Ossian.
Publisher: London, Printed for J. Walker, F.C. and J. Rivington; and others., 1819.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 5" X 3".
Pages: xxxvi-489 pages.
Binding: Attractive and good contemporary full calf leather binding (hinges worn but tight, overall worn and scuffed - as shown) under a removable protective mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight, and clean, armorial ex-libris of a previous owner, "T.V. Ludadore" with the motto "Scuto Amoris Divini", on the first endpaper - as shown, gift note of a previous 1832 owner on the second blank page - as shown, light foxing or staining - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with the beautiful frontispiece and the illustrated title page. The frontispiece portrays a lone figure standing on the cliffs titled "This night I am alone forlorn on the hill of storms" by H. Corbould and A. Duncan. The engraved title page shows another romantic scene set amidst nature, also engraved by Duncan, further enhancing the book's artistic appeal.
Estimate: (USD 200 - USD 300).
The book: The Poems of Ossian became a literary sensation in the 18th century and was widely considered to be an ancient Gaelic epic until its authenticity was later questioned. James Macpherson claimed to have translated these poems from ancient sources, and they significantly influenced European romanticism. This 1819 edition includes critical dissertations and discussions regarding the era and poems of Ossian, offering both literary enjoyment and scholarly commentary.
The author: James Macpherson (1736-1796) was a Scottish writer and poet known for his translation of the Ossianic poems, which he claimed were based on ancient Gaelic manuscripts. Though his work was later challenged, Macpherson's translations had a profound impact on the Romantic movement and were praised by figures like Goethe and Napoleon.