Poems

JAMES HURDIS

P O E M S

THREE VOLUMES BOUND AS ONE

ADRIANO 1792 second edition

TEARS OF AFFECTION 1794 first edition

THE VILLAGE CURATE 1797 fourth edition

LONDON

J. JOHNSON

DESCRIPTION

(ii) + 105 + ads + 90 + 136 + (ii)

Book measures 195mm x 125mm approximately.

Nicely bound in full contemporary calf with later re-backed spine. Spine with five raised bands and maroon title label. Gilt chain border to both boards. Marbled end-papers and paste-downs.

CONDITION

In overall good condition. The binding is in firm condition and holding very well. There is some crackling, and some general scuffs and knocks to the boards with some small missing sections of leather. Bumping to board corners. Internally the pages are in good clean condition generally although some light spotting throughout and occasional browning.

Overall, a nicely bound rare volume of poetry in good condition.

INTERESTING

James Hurdis (1763 to1801) was an English clergyman and poet born in Bishopstone, East Sussex. Not a great deal is known about Hurdis and he is not well researched.

He studied at St Mary Hall, Oxford, and Magdalen College, Oxford, later becoming a Fellow of Magdalen College. Hurdis was curate for the East Sussex village of Burwash from 1786, and it was there that he wrote The Village Curate, a blank verse poem published anonymously in 1788. In 1791 he became the vicar of his home church at Bishopstone. In 1793 he was appointed Professor of Poetry at Oxford University.