Excerpt: ... Unfortunately, when Sidney took up his pen to write his "Arcadia," 189 he no longer looked into his heart; he loosed the rein of his imagination, and, without concerning himself with a critical posterity for whom the book was not destined, he only wished, like Lyly, to write a romance for ladies, or rather for one lady, his sister, the Countess of Pembroke, famous as his sister, famous as a patron of letters, 190 famous also as the mother of William Herbert, the future friend of Shakespeare, the "W. H." for ...
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Excerpt: ... Unfortunately, when Sidney took up his pen to write his "Arcadia," 189 he no longer looked into his heart; he loosed the rein of his imagination, and, without concerning himself with a critical posterity for whom the book was not destined, he only wished, like Lyly, to write a romance for ladies, or rather for one lady, his sister, the Countess of Pembroke, famous as his sister, famous as a patron of letters, 190 famous also as the mother of William Herbert, the future friend of Shakespeare, the "W. H." for whom in all probability the sonnets of the great poet were written. Sidney sent the sheets to his sister as fast as he penned them, charging her to destroy them, a thing she did not do. 235 The poet knight only saw in it an amusement for himself and for the Countess, and he gave free vent to his fondness for poetical prose: "For severer eyes it is not," says he to his sister, "being but a trifle and that triflingly handled. Your deare selfe can best witnesse the manner, being done in loose sheets of paper, most of it in your presence, the rest by sheetes, sent unto you as fast as they were done. In summe, a young head, not so well staied as I would it were (and shall bee when God will) having many fancies begotten in it, if it had not beene in some way delivered, would have growne a monster, and more sorry might I bee that they came in than that they gat out." His "Apologie" was perhaps from its style more useful to the development of the novel than the "Arcadia"; but the latter, in spite of its enormous defects of style and composition, was also of use, and it is not unimportant to note that its influence lasted until and even beyond the time of Richardson. Sidney's romance is not, as might be believed, an enormous pseudo-Greek pastoral, with tunic-wearing shepherds in the foreground, piping their ditties to 236 their flocks, to their nymphs, to Echo. Elizabethan Arcadias were knightly Arcadias. Sidney's heroes are all princes or the daughters...
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Seller's Description:
Very good; Collectible. This is the hardcover stated Benn First Edition from 1966. Other than a clipped back cardholder flyleaf (ex lib), both the mylar-covered DJ and the book are in very good condition. There are no rips, tears, etc. and the pages and binding are tight. This wonderful, impossible-to-find item is available for purchase now! **Note: All books listed as FIRST EDITIONS are stated by the publisher in words or number lines--or--only stated editions that include only the publisher and publication date. NAME YOUR PRICE! ! ! Due to the vagaries of market fluctuations, an item's listed price should be considered a guideline. Serious buyers are welcome to make a on each and every item listed, with the assurance that ALL reasonable offers will be accepted!
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Seller's Description:
Very good in very good dust jacket. Ex-library. 433p., ill., 23 cm. Previous ed. of this translation, T. Fisher Unwin, 1890. This is the hardcover stated Benn First Edition from 1966. Other than a clipped back cardholder flyleaf (ex lib), both the mylar-covered DJ and the book are in very good condition. There are no rips, tears, etc. and the pages and binding are tight. This wonderful, impossible-to-find item is available for purchase now! **Note: All books listed as FIRST EDITIONS are stated by the publisher in words or number lines--or--only stated editions that include only the publisher and publication date. NAME YOUR PRICE! ! ! Due to the vagaries of market fluctuations, an item's listed price should be considered a guideline. Serious buyers are welcome to make a BEST OFFER on each and every item listed, with the assurance that ALL reasonable offers will be accepted!
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 900grams, ISBN:
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 900grams, ISBN:
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. Book contains pen & pencil markings In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. Octavo. Blue cloth covers. Tape over backstrip. Publisher's gilt emblem on front cover, partially obscured by the tape. Bumped corners and scuffed edges. Covers coming loose. Scuffed and scratched covers. Foxing. A page containing books by the same author completely loose. Fourth edition. Frontispiece of Queen Elizabeth I. Back cover almost detached. Loose binding. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 900grams, ISBN: