1850 Rare Book - The Complete Poetical Works of William Cowper, illustrated.

(description)

Author : William Cowper
Title :The Complete Poetical Works of William Cowper, with Life and Critical Notice of His Writings.
Publisher : London: Thomas Holmes; Edinburgh: Gail & Inglis, no date (circa 1850's).
Language : Text in English
Size : 6.5 " X 4 "
Pages : 516 pages
Binding : Very good near fine attractive full leather binding with decorative panelling (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover.  
Content : Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare foxing). 
Illustrations : Illustrated with eight engravings on steel.

Estimation : (USD 75 - USD 175)

The book : Rare edition in a unique and very attractive binding of the Poetical Works of William Cowper.

The Author : William Cowper (26 November 1731 – 25 April 1800) was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. He was a nephew of the poet Judith Madan.
After being institutionalised for insanity in the period 1763–65, Cowper found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity, the inspiration behind his much-loved hymns. He continued to suffer doubt and, after a dream in 1773, believed that he was doomed to eternal damnation. He recovered and wrote more religious hymns.