Fable Goats by Pratt E J (3 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. About the book: Hardcover. No jacket. First Edition, First Printing. Non-authorial inscription on first blank page. Book is in very good condition with moderate wear. Spine has faded and first blank page has yelllowed. This book awarded Pratt his first Governor General's Award. Additional photos available upon request. Non-Authorial Inscription.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Edwin John Pratt was born in Western Bay, Newfoundland in 1882, and died in 1964.  He was the foremost Canadian poet of his time, and a key figure at Victoria College at the University of Toronto, where he taught English until his retirement.   He was known for having command of a variety of forms of poetry, including sonnets and ballads, before moving on to free verse and more experimental forms.  He was particularly influenced by the natural world, and especially that of his childhood home of Newfoundland, and the interactions of the people with the land and sea.  These themes emerged in his narrative poetry, a poetic form that was of  interest to him.  In addition, he was known for social commentary in his poetry, being one of the only Canadian poets of his time to comment on the experience of Black Canadians. "The Fable of the Goats and Other Poems" was published in 1937, and was the collection for which he won his first Governor-Generals Award in the same year.  "The Fable of the Goats" is the title poem in a collection of shorter works.  It is a longer, allegorical narrative that has been interpreted in different ways.  It has been described as an example of his commentary on racial equality, described as "a powerful allegory about racial prejudice and the struggle for equality."  Robert G. Collins in his study of Pratt for the Twayne's World Authors Series, published in 1988, argues that it was a "pacifist poem," published just before Chamberlain's trip to Munich in 1938.  The title comes from one of Aesop's fables which recounts the story of two goats meeting on a narrow bridge above a chasm.  Both refuse to give way so the other may pass, fighting for place until they both ultimately fall from the bridge to their deaths.  Pratt's version discusses the history of the two goats that led to this point, and ends with one goat lying down so the other may pass and then himself passing,  both peacefully entering the other's territory. Given the view of the role of appeasement in the later outbreak of the Second World War, it has been suggested that Pratt was disinclined to include "The Fable of the Goats" in later anthologies of his work. Political themes appear elsewhere in the volume, particularly in the second poem, "The Baritone," which was satirical portrayal of Hitler, of whom Pratt was a vociferous opponent. This first edition copy is in excellent condition.  There are some small gaps in the the gilt title, and some staining to the fabric on the top edge of the covers.  There is some wear to the fabric at the corners and at the top and bottom of the spine.  There is a note on the front flyleaf.  The pages have some age-related discolouration to the edges, but nothing significant, and there is not blemish to any of the text.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. First edition, signed by E. J. Pratt to front endpaper. Gilt lettering to front board. Spine slightly faded. Slight offsetting to front pastedown and endpaper, and rear pastedown and endpaper. Some age toning to text block. Otherwise a sharp copy. Pages are clean. Binding is strong and square. Book comes in protective mylar. Signed by Author(s).