Hudibras

Chiswick: C. Whittingham Press, 1818. Leather. Very Good Indeed. 5.5" by 3.5". Unnamed. A pleasing two volume edition of Samuel Butler's renowned satirical allegory, 'Hudibras'. Samuel Butler was a renowned poet and satirist, and author of the most memorable burlesque poem in the English language 'Hudibras'. This satiric poem, published in several parts beginning in 1663, was the first English satire to make a notable and successful attack on ideas rather than on personalities. Indeed, the work is directed against militant Puritanism, and more specifically the fanaticism, pretentiousness, pedantry, and hypocrisy that Butler identified in the movement. With a charming vignette title page to each volume, and further vignette engravings to the head of each canto. In a half polished calf binding with green cloth boards and marbled textblock. Externally very smart, with slight rubbing to extremities and head and tail of spine. Slight fading to spine, as expected with this colour binding. Slight offsetting to endpapers, more severe to front pastedown volume I and rear pastedown volume II. Internally firmly bound. Pages slightly age toned but very bright and clean, with only the odd light spot to the occasional page. Very small tidemark to head of gutter page 1-16 volume I, not affecting text. Very Good Indeed