Christabel: Kubla Khan, A Vision; The Pains of Sleep
Coleridge, S[amuel]. T[aylor]
London. Printed for John Murray, Albemarle Street, by William Bulmer ... &c. 1816
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Poet John Drinkwater's copy of the first edition of three of Coleridge's most important poems.
First edition, entirely uncut, with the half-title and four leaves of advertisements dated 'March, 1816'.
The story presented by Coleridge of the composition of 'Kubla Khan, A Vision' and its interruption by the 'person on business from Porlock' is well known and has entered the annals of literature. The poem, with Coleridge's explanation, was published here for the first time, together with the important, (and as often with Coleridge) unfinished, 'Christabel', with its Gothic overtone and intricate musical rhythms, and the shorter poem 'The Pains of Sleep'. The verses, composed some years earlier (Coleridge had begun 'Christabel' in the later 1790s and 'Kubla Khan' in 1800), were published, at Byron's urging, by Byron's publisher John Murray in an edition of 500 copies; the work was reprinted twice in the same year.
John Drinkwater (1882 - 1937) was an English poet, dramatist and critic. Drinkwater was one of the 'Dymock Poets' immediately before the First World War, together with Robert Frost, Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Lascelles Abercrombie and Wilfrid Wilson Gibson. After the end of the war, Drinkwater had several notable successes as a dramatist and his drama 'Abraham Lincoln' was filmed in 1924. Drinkwater lived for much of his later life in Highgate, close to Coleridge's refuge at the house of Dr. James Gillman.
'Murray appears to have undertaken the work at Byron's recommendation; it passed rapidly through several editions ... '. (Shepherd).
[Haney 20; Shepherd 43].
First edition, entirely uncut, with the half-title and four leaves of advertisements dated 'March, 1816'.
The story presented by Coleridge of the composition of 'Kubla Khan, A Vision' and its interruption by the 'person on business from Porlock' is well known and has entered the annals of literature. The poem, with Coleridge's explanation, was published here for the first time, together with the important, (and as often with Coleridge) unfinished, 'Christabel', with its Gothic overtone and intricate musical rhythms, and the shorter poem 'The Pains of Sleep'. The verses, composed some years earlier (Coleridge had begun 'Christabel' in the later 1790s and 'Kubla Khan' in 1800), were published, at Byron's urging, by Byron's publisher John Murray in an edition of 500 copies; the work was reprinted twice in the same year.
John Drinkwater (1882 - 1937) was an English poet, dramatist and critic. Drinkwater was one of the 'Dymock Poets' immediately before the First World War, together with Robert Frost, Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Lascelles Abercrombie and Wilfrid Wilson Gibson. After the end of the war, Drinkwater had several notable successes as a dramatist and his drama 'Abraham Lincoln' was filmed in 1924. Drinkwater lived for much of his later life in Highgate, close to Coleridge's refuge at the house of Dr. James Gillman.
'Murray appears to have undertaken the work at Byron's recommendation; it passed rapidly through several editions ... '. (Shepherd).
[Haney 20; Shepherd 43].
pp. vii, (i), 64, (viii). 8vo. (238 x 149 mm). Half-title, printed title, Coleridge's preface and text of Christabel, Kubla Khan and The Pains of Sleep, each with section title (one for each part of Christabel) and the four leaves of publisher's advertisements. Contemporary scarlet straight-grained morocco over marbled boards by Birdsall & Son with their discreet stamp to front free endpaper verso, title gilt and with thistle tools in six compartments, marbled endpapers, edges uncut, later red cloth folding chemise and matching slipcase, midnight blue calf title labels with gilt title to spine.
#42270
