The Poems of John Clare

The Poems of

J O H N C L A R E

Edited with an introduction

by

J. W. Tibble

LONDON

J. M. DENT & SONS LIMITED

1935

DESCRIPTION

(ii) + xxxii + 569pp + (ii)

(ii) + 567pp + (ii)

Books measure 210mm x 145mm approximately.

Dust jackets over red cloth covered boards. Portrait frontispiece to title page verso of vol I, and similar to vol II. Top page edges coloured red.

CONDITION

Both bindings are holding tight. Boards each have a few surface marks with minor crumpling to spine heads and mild bumping to corners. Dust jackets have cellophane type wrappers. Complete although with some splits, nearly all of length along rear hinge of vol I and partially to rear hinge and inner flap of vol II. Spines are darkened and there is spotting and foxing to most surfaces. A few losses to spine foot and head.

Internally the pages are complete and in good clean and bright condition throughout. There is only some moderate browning towards end-papers and paste-downs, and the occasional spot or mark. A few marks to page edges. Some foxing to end-papers and paste-downs. Previous owner ink signature to front end-paper of each volume.

Overall, a nice set of Clare's poetry.

Please always refer to photo images for a clearer indication of condition.

We are always happy to provide further photo images if required.

INTERESTING

John Clare (13 July 1793 – 20 May 1864) was an English poet. The son of a farm labourer, he became known for his celebrations of the English countryside and sorrows at its disruption. His biographer Jonathan Bate called Clare "the greatest labouring-class poet that England has ever produced. No one has ever written more powerfully of nature, of a rural childhood, and of the alienated and unstable self.

Clare became an agricultural labourer while still a child, but attended school in Glinton church until he was 12. In his early adult years, Clare became a potboy in the Blue Bell public house and later he was a gardener at Burghley House. He enlisted in the militia, and also tried camp life with Gypsies. Clare suffered from bouts of depression most of his life. He also displayed erratic and delusional behaviour and suffered with his mental health. He spent time in lunatic asylums and under private care.

His poetry was much forgotten after his death but revived in the early 19th century. The two-volume ground-breaking works edited by John and Anne Tibble (these volumes) led much of this renewed interest in Clare.