Liber amoris: Or, the New Pygmalion.

[Hazlitt (William)]

Published by Printed for John Hunt, 1823

About this Item

FIRST EDITION, with engraved title-page, ink with a greenish tint, with a vignette portrait of Sarah Walker after Hazlitt's drawing, some foxing, pp. [iv], 192, 8vo, uncut in the original pink boards, spine of drab paper, printed label partly defective, rubbed, and corners worn, sound. Keynes calls the pink boards the first binding: the label he calls for is longitudinal, but here we have the later issue label. 'In the end Hazlitt could only purge himself of the abortive affair by writing a book about it, Liber amoris ('Book of love'), published in May 1823. It consisted of dialogues between "W" and "S" written in a style of extreme sensibility, together with edited versions of Hazlitt's own letters to his friends about his feelings for Sarah. Emotionally raw, at times vulgar and embarrassing, Liber amoris played into the hands of his enemies in the right-wing press. Though published anonymously, it was quickly identified as Hazlitt's and he was made a laughing-stock for his infatuation with "the tailor's daughter"' (ODNB). (Keynes 67). Seller Inventory # 57025

Bibliographic Details

Title: Liber amoris: Or, the New Pygmalion.

Publisher: Printed for John Hunt

Publication Date: 1823