1822 Rare Book - Jerusalem Delivered; An Heroic Poem by Torquato Tasso

Author: Torquato Tasso. Translated by John Hoole.
Title: Jerusalem Delivered; An Heroic Poem.
Publisher: London, Printed for F.C. & J. Rivington, et al., 1821.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 5 x 3 inches. 
Pages: xlvii-404 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good beautiful contemporary full dark brown straight-grain morocco leather binding, covers framed with an elegant gilt palmette border, spine richly gilt in compartments with fine lattice tooling and gilt lettering, gilt turn-ins, red endpapers, (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing more pronounced to the engraved title and frontispiece and toning - as shown, early 19th-century gift inscription on a prelim: “Emma Nash from her affectionate friend Miss Ryder, Comberwell Green, August 5th 1823 — A reward for merit - as shown). 
Illustrations: Two fine engraved (frontispiece and title page) by Davenport after T. Uwins, dated January 1822, together with the printed title page dated 1821.

Estimate: (USD 200– USD 250).

The book: A handsome early-19th-century English edition of Jerusalem Delivered, Torquato Tasso’s great Renaissance epic recounting the First Crusade in a rich blend of history, heroism, romance, and Christian allegory. John Hoole’s influential English translation helped introduce Tasso’s poetic vision to the English-speaking world, and editions of this period were often presented as gift or prize books — as reflected in the elegant morocco binding and the affectionate 1823 inscription preserved here. A lovely copy, both literary and collectible, in a refined period binding.

The author: Torquato Tasso (1544–1595) was one of the great poets of the Italian Renaissance. His masterpiece, Gerusalemme Liberata (Jerusalem Delivered), recounts a romanticized version of the First Crusade, blending classical epic structure with medieval chivalric themes and a deep sense of spiritual struggle. The poem profoundly influenced European literature, inspiring painters, composers, and poets from Milton to Byron.

Tasso’s life, marked by brilliance, courtly service, emotional turbulence, and periods of confinement, became as legendary as his writing.

The translator: John Hoole (1727–1803) was an influential English translator of Italian literature, best known for bringing Tasso and Ariosto into the English-speaking world. Though sometimes considered conservative in style, his translations were admired in their time for their poetic restraint, clarity, and fidelity to the original spirit. His work played a central role in making Renaissance Italian epics accessible to 18th- and 19th-century readers and remained in circulation for generations.