The Works of the Author of Night-Thoughts

THE

W O R K S

OF THE

AUTHOR

OF

THE NIGHT - THOUGHTS

_____

IN THREE VOLUMES

_____

REVISED AND CORRECTED BY HIMSELF

A NEW EDITION

_____

London

PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON; OTRIDGE AND SON; J. NICHOLS;

J. SEWELL; LONGMAN AND REES; CADELL AND DAVIES et al.

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1802

DESCRIPTION

(iv) + 349pp + (iv)

(iv) + 374pp + (iv)

(iv) + 383pp + (iv)

Books measure 220mm x 140mm approximately.

Three volumes, uniformly bound in full dark tan leather. Spine with six gilt-ruled bands with gilt motif designs to each compartment and twin red and black title and volume labels. Boards with multiple gilt-ruled borders, and inner chain gilt ruling. Marbled end-papers and paste-downs, and marbled page edges. Engraved frontispiece to vol I and further lovely engravings throughout each volume.

CONDITION

Very nice lustre to books generally with nice age-related patina to boards. Bindings are all holding well with boards firmly attached. Occasional small marks, scuffs, wear and a few small losses of leather here and there, vol II has small section missing near lower front hinge. Bumping to board corners, vol II with small splits to lower board corners. Internally, the pages are in very fresh and clean condition, with just a few random spots and blemishes, and with mild toning and foxing to engraving pages.

A very handsome three volume set. One of the nicest sets of Young's Works recently seen.

Please refer to the photo images for a clear indication of both condition and content.

INTERESTING

Edward Young (1683 – 1765) was an English poet, critic, philosopher and theologian, best remembered for the Night-Thoughts which was one of the most printed works of the eighteenth century and was a huge success, being translated into many languages.

The Complaint: or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, better known simply as Night-Thoughts, is a long poem by Edward Young published in nine parts (or "nights") between 1742 and 1745.

The poem is written in blank verse. It describes the poet's musings on death over a series of nine "nights" in which he ponders the loss of his wife and friends, and laments human frailties. The best-known line in the poem (at the end of "Night I") is the adage "procrastination is the thief of time", which is part of a passage in which the poet discusses how quickly life and opportunities can slip away.

Night-Thoughts was illustrated by William Blake in 1797.