HOUSMAN, A[LFRED]. E[DWARD] | A Shropshire Lad. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.,1896

The Property of a Gentleman

HOUSMAN, A[LFRED]. E[DWARD]

A Shropshire Lad. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.,1896

8vo (4 3/8 x 6 7/8 in.; 111 x 175 mm). Half-title, title-page printed in red and black; contemporary inscription to half-title (“Gunpowder Plot Day, 1896”), one or two pencil marks. Original blue paper covered boards (state "A" binding), paper spine label printed in red; some fading to boards, light spotting and rubbing to extremities. In custom quarter green over cloth covered board slipcase with folding chemise.

First edition of Housman's most celebrated collection of poems

A Shropshire Lad was originally offered to Macmillan under the title Poems by Terence Hearsay but declined, and then published at Housman's expense in March 1896. "Though not an instant success, the little volume gradually won a large audience through the universality of its dominant themes (nature, love, war, and death) and the directness of its language and rhythms" (Page, Oxford DNB). The book has been in print continuously since May of 1896.

Issued in an edition of 500 copies, the present volume is one of 350 of those with

the London imprint.

REFERENCES

Carter and Sparrow 11; Hayward 305

PROVENANCE

E.E. Taylor (bookplate to front pastedown) — H. Bradley Martin (bookplate to chemise)