The Pursuits of Literature

THE

PURSUITS OF LITERATURE

A

SATIRICAL POEM

IN FOUR DIALOGUES

WITH NOTES

THE SIXTH EDITION

_________

LONDON :

T. BECKET

_____

1798.

By Thomas James Mathias

DESCRIPTION

(ii) + xxxi + 381pp + (ii)

Book measures 215mm x 140mm approximately.

Contemporary binding in full flame calf. Spine with several gilt bands with elaborate gilt decoration to compartments and maroon title label. Gilt key-type border to both boards with gilt inner dentelle work.

CONDITION

In overall fair condition. The binding is holding although both hinges are cracked along most of their length, the front board being a little less robust. Some minor surface scratches, nicks and small losses to leather, with bumping to corners. Internally the pages are uniformly dulled but clean throughout with occasional spotting, more so towards the earlier and latter pages. Very small neat previous owner signature to top of original front end-paper.

INTERESTING

Thomas James Mathias (1754 to 1835) was a British satirist and scholar. Mathias was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He held some minor appointments in the royal household. He died in Naples.

Mathias became a vegetarian after reading Mandeville's The Fable of the Bees. He gave up all meat and lived on a diet of milk and vegetables

He was an accomplished Italian scholar, and translated various English works into Italian. He also produced a fine edition of the work of Thomas Gray, on which he lost heavily. His chief work was The Pursuits of Literature (1794), an undiscriminating satire on his literary contemporaries that went through 16 editions, but is now almost forgotten. More so was his uncompromising criticism of the times.