1855 Rare Fairy Queen Book ~ The FAERIE QUEENE by Edmund SPENSER Illustrated by Corbould.
(description)
Author : Edmund SPENSER; (Edward Henry Corbould,, illustrator).
Title : THE FAERIE QUEENE: Disposed into Twelve Books fashioning XII Moral Virtues. To which is added his Epithalamion. Third edition with a Glossary.
Publisher : London, G. Routledge & Co., 1855. Third edition (stated).
Language : Text in English.
Size : 6.5 "X 4.5 " .
Pages : xii-820 pages.
Binding : Attractive and very good Victorian dark red leather binding, heavily blind stamped decorative covers, with faded gilt titles to spine (hinges scuffed but tight, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content : Very good content (bright and tight, some foxing and staining - as shown, gilt edged and uncommon patterned gilt text block - as shown).
Illustrations : Beautifully illustrated by Edward Henry Corbould.
The book : Nice mid-19th century illustrated edition of the Faerie Queene. The Faerie Queene is an English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. Books I–III were first published in 1590, and then republished in 1596 together with books IV–VI. The Faerie Queene is notable for its form: it is one of the longest poems in the English language as well as 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 the aim of publishing The Faerie Queene was to "fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline".
The author : 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.