Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery. By a Northamptonshire peasant.

CLARE, John.

Published by London: Taylor and Hessey, 1821

About this Item

Fourth edition (one year after first), attractively bound. Clare's sensational debut collection had sold out the first edition of 1,000 copies in two months, with many further editions to follow. The son of a Northamptonshire thresher and wrestler, John Clare (1793-1864) began composing poetry after reading James Thomson's The Seasons (1730). In order to forestall his parents' eviction from their home, Clare offered his first writings to local bookseller Edward Drury, a cousin of John Taylor of Taylor & Hessey, the publishing house issuing Keats's poetry at the time. With Taylor's support, Clare released Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery. He published only three further books: The Village Minstrel (1821), The Shepherd's Calendar (1827), and The Rural Muse (1835). Hayward 236. Duodecimo (158 x 91 mm), pp. [ii], vi, xiii, 208. With 8 pp. publisher's advertisements at rear. Near-contemporary half vellum by R. Hynes, Dover, smooth gilt-ruled spine with red morocco spine label, marbled sides and endpapers, top edge gilt, binder's ticket on front pastedown. Pencilled ownership inscription on half-title. Vellum slightly soiled, light rubbing to binding, foxing to contents, short closed marginal tear to p. 188. A very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 193865

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery. By a Northamptonshire peasant.
• Publisher: London: Taylor and Hessey, 1821