The Poetical Works Of William Somervile
Embellished With Superb Engravings (All Present)
Printed for C. Cooke: London 1803
"The Poetical Works of William Somervile brings together the principal verse of one of the 18th century's most distinctive rural poets, best remembered for his celebrated hunting poem The Chace. Somervile's poetry reflects a deep engagement with the English countryside, field sports, and moral reflection, expressed in a robust yet cultivated style that bridges Augustan formality and a more natural, descriptive sensibility. Accompanied here by The Life of the Author, the volume provides valuable contemporary insight into Somervile's character, reputation, and literary standing among his peers.
This Cooke's Edition, printed in London in 1803 for C. Cooke, is handsomely produced and richly illustrated, forming part of Cooke's ambitious and popular series of British poets. The book is embellished with a fine engraved frontispiece, a decorative vignette, and three additional full-page plates dated 1801, 1802, and 1803, all present in this copy. The engravings, with their pastoral and sporting subjects, closely reflect the themes of Somervile's verse and exemplify the high standard of book illustration achieved in the late Georgian period.
Issued in original boards with a paper spine label, this volume retains strong period character and visual appeal, particularly with its complete suite of engravings. As a representative example of early 19th-century English poetic publishing, it offers both literary and aesthetic interest, and would particularly appeal to collectors of Georgian poetry, admirers of rural and sporting verse, and those interested in illustrated editions from Cooke's celebrated series of British poets."
