The Poetical Works Of James Montgomery
Collected by Himself
Published by Longman, Brown, Green And Longmans: London 1851
In Original Embossed Bindings With Frontis & Vignette
"Published in London by Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans in 1851, The Poetical Works of James Montgomery brings together the writings of the celebrated Scottish-born poet, hymn writer and journalist James Montgomery (1771-1854). Significantly described on the title page as "Collected by Himself," this substantial single-volume edition appeared during the author's lifetime and only three years before his death. Montgomery was one of the most widely read religious and humanitarian poets of his generation, while his long association with the Sheffield Iris also established him as an influential journalist and campaigner for political and social reform.
The collection encompasses Montgomery's extensive poetic career, including his important early work The Wanderer of Switzerland, together with longer narrative and devotional poems, hymns, occasional verse and numerous shorter compositions. Montgomery frequently used poetry to address subjects extending beyond conventional Romantic sentiment, including liberty, slavery, missionary endeavour, war, faith and the condition of humanity. His introductory and explanatory material accompanying the principal works provides valuable autobiographical and historical context, making this edition particularly interesting as an author-supervised presentation of his literary legacy.
Of particular note is Montgomery's "Occasional Notice," dated 25 March 1850, in which he explains that earlier collected editions had appeared in three volumes in 1836 and four handsomely embellished volumes in 1841. Encouraged by their reception, he prepared the present more condensed edition in the hope that works which had attracted attention over more than a quarter of a century might continue to find readers. The volume is illustrated with an engraved portrait frontispiece of Montgomery, complete with facsimile signature, together with an attractive engraved vignette title depicting a scene from The Wanderer of Switzerland.
The book remains in its original mid-nineteenth-century embossed cloth binding, featuring elaborate blind-stamped ornamental panels to the boards and decorative spine compartments with gilt titling. Despite expected external wear and fading from its considerable age, the survival of the publisher's original binding adds greatly to its period character, while the engraved frontispiece and vignette remain present. An appealing lifetime collection of the works of an important nineteenth-century British poet, this 1851 edition combines literary, religious and social-history interest with attractive examples of Victorian bookbinding and engraved illustration."
Light wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. Includes frontis and vignette. No inscriptions. Pages are clean and well presented. A nice copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
