William Salisbury Pseud (1 results)

FIRST EDITION. Ad. on verso of final leaf, 4pp cata. Uncut, sewn as issued; a little browned, corners creased. Blind stamp on titlepage of John Fowles, Lyme Regis. 31, (5)pp. A scathing satire on George IV in mock biblical style, supposedly translated from a 13th century manuscript, 'which by accident fell into the hands of the editor a few months ago'. The subject is Abomilech, King of the Philistines, a near Eastern people who lived in parts of modern-day Israel from the 12th to the 6th centuries BC. He is portrayed as an immoral despot, 'given to riotous living' and 'lusting after strange women'. 'The people hated Abomilech and instead of shouting they cursed him, and prayed that they might behold his face no more'. The preface advises, 'The story, probably, was composed for the purpose of recording the improper conduct of some king of the Author's own times. Late events, however, it was conceived, might render it interesting to the readers of the present day.' This copy belonged to the English writer John Fowles, 1926-2005, best-known for The Magus, 1965, and The French Lieutenant's Woman, 1969.