Dramatic Idyls.

BROWNING, Robert.

$12,000.00

Item Number: 147760

London: Smith, Elder, & Co, 1879 & 1880.

First edition of this classic work by Robert Browning exploring dramatic monologue and narrative poetry, inscribed by Browning in each volume. Octodecimo, two volumes, bound in full levant morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within gilt raised bands, triple gilt ruling to boards, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, doublures of blue levant morocco to pastedowns, crimson moire endpapers, all edges gilt. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in volume one, “Mrs. Skirrow with RB’s affectionate regards. Apr. 26 ’79,” and in volume two, “Mrs. Skirrow with RB’s affectionate regards, June 27 ’80.” Mrs. Charles (Amelia Cherry) Skirrow is noted to be one of a small and devoted circle of women who were enamored of the aging Browning. In near fine condition with some marginal toning. Cloth dust jackets are in very good condition. From the library of noted collector William A. Strutz with his small bookplate to the pastedown, with an additional ownership plate from Jerome Kern. Housed in a custom slipcases.

Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humor, social commentary, historical settings and challenging vocabulary and syntax. His career began well – the long poems Pauline and Paracelsus were acclaimed – but his reputation fell back for a time – his 1840 poem Sordello was seen as wilfully obscure – and took over a decade to recover, by which time he had moved from Shelleyan forms to a more personal style. In 1846 Browning married fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett and moved to Italy. By her death in 1861 he had published the collection Men and Women. His Dramatis Personae and book-length epic poem The Ring and the Book made him a leading poet.