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Idylls of the King

Idylls of the King

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Idylls of the King

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Very Good+
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About This Item

IDYLLS OF THE KING

BY

ALFRED

LORD TENNYSON

POET LAUREATE

London

MACMILLAN AND CO.

1894

DESCRIPTION

(iv) + 421 + (iv)

Book measures 180mm x 130mm approximately.

Nicely bound by Bumpus in full russet-brown grained calf. Spine with five gilt-ruled raised bands with superb gilt decoration with central red roses in the "arts & crafts" style to compartments with author, title and date in gilt. Gilt inner ruled borders with cornices and marbled end-papers and paste-downs. Top page edges in gilt, remainder uncut. Illustration to title page verso.

CONDITION

In overall very good condition. The binding is in firm condition although the front board hinge seems a little weak, but holding very well. There are a few very minor surface scratches, and very light bumping to upper board corners. Internally the pages are very clean and bright although with some foxing spots developing towards title page, verso and end-papers.

Overall, a very nicely bound volume in good condition.

INTERESTING

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson FRS (1809 to 1892) was a British poet. He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets.

Idylls of the King, published between 1859 and 1885, is a cycle of twelve narrative poems which retells the legend of King Arthur, his knights, his love for Guinevere and her tragic betrayal of him, and the rise and fall of Arthur's kingdom.

The whole work recounts Arthur's attempt and failure to lift up mankind and create a perfect kingdom, from his coming to power to his death at the hands of the traitor Mordred. Individual poems detail the deeds of various knights, including Lancelot, Geraint, Galahad, and Balin and Balan, and also Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. There is little transition between Idylls, but the central figure of Arthur links all the stories. The poems were dedicated to the late Albert, Prince Consort.

The Idylls are written in blank verse. Tennyson's descriptions of nature are derived from observations of his own surroundings, collected over the course of many years. The dramatic narratives are not an epic either in structure or tone, but derive elegiac sadness in the style of the idylls of Theocritus. Idylls of the King is often read as an allegory of the societal conflicts in Britain during the mid-Victorian era.

Synopsis

The Idylls of a King was published between 1859 and 1885 as a collection of 12 narrative poems by the English Poet, Lord Alfred Tennson. The collection regales the legend of King Arthur and his knights, his love for Guinevere and her tragic betrayal of him, and the rise and fall of Arthur's kingdom. The whole work recounts Arthur's attempt and failure to lift up mankind and create a perfect kingdom, from his coming to power to his death at the hands of the traitor Mordred. Individual poems detail the deeds of various knights, including Lancelot, Geraint, Galahad, and Balin and Balan, and also Merlin and the Lady of the Lake. The poems were dedicated to the late Prince Consort Albert. The Idylls are written in blank verse.

Read More: Identifying first editions of Idylls of the King

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Details

Bookseller
Melmoth Books GB (GB)
Bookseller's Inventory #
MB0303
Title
Idylls of the King
Author
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Format/Binding
Bumpus
Book Condition
Used - Very Good+
Quantity Available
1
Binding
Hardcover
Publisher
Macmillan and Co.
Place of Publication
London
Date Published
1894
Weight
0.00 lbs

Terms of Sale

Melmoth Books

30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged. Please do let us know of any issues as soon as possible however, and we will try to resolve.

About the Seller

Melmoth Books

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2020
York, North Yorkshire

About Melmoth Books

We have been collecting and dealing in books for over 20 years. We are passionate bibliophiles who understand the importance and satisfaction of "the read". We have a broad range of subject interest from rare antiquarian, poetry, Bronte, South Africa, the Graveyard Poets and Women Writers. We provide valuation and probate services and we also purchase individual books and collections.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Calf
Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
Hinge
The portion of the book closest to the spine that allows the book to be opened and closed.
Verso
The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Title Page
A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
Spine
The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
Remainder
Book(s) which are sold at a very deep discount to alleviate publisher overstock. Often, though not always, they have a remainder...
Edges
The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
Raised Band(s)
Raised bands refer to the ridges that protrude slightly from the spine on leather bound books. The bands are created in the...

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