Rehabilitations and Other Essays.

LEWIS, C.S.

$14,000.00

Item Number: 149316

London: Oxford University Press, 1939.

First edition of one of Lewis’ earliest and most substantial books of essays. Octavo, original cloth, top edge black. Boldly by C.S. Lewis on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Provenance: Bookseller’s description laid in noting that this copy was signed by Lewis for K.P. Storer. Kenneth Peter Storer (1924-2007) read English at University College, Oxford, where Lewis also studied as an undergraduate some twenty years prior. Though a Fellow and Tutor in English at Magdalen College when Storer was an Oxford student, Lewis would also take English tutorials for University College students as the school had no English fellow at the time. Under these circumstances, Storer met Lewis, and the two developed a friendship. Storer dined with Lewis on a number of occasions, where Lewis gifted the student some of his signed works. Condition: Minor soiling to spine and some edgewear. Dust jacket unclipped (priced “7s. 6d. net”), spine sunned, somewhat toned, scattered soiling and a few stains, crease along spine panel, small puncture to front panel not affecting text, some edgewear and a few minor chips. References: Christopher & Ostling VI.B.6. From the library of noted collector William A. Strutz with his small bookplate to the pastedown. Rare and desirable signed.

Lewis states in his preface to the present volume: "A man is seldom moved to praise what he loves until it has been attacked. The first six essays in this book, which give it its title, were all in varying degrees provoked in this way. The first two defend great romantic poets against popular hatred or neglect of Romanticism. The third and fourth defend the present course of English studies at Oxford against certain criticisms... The fifth is partly a defence of the many popular books which have, I believe, so greatly increased my power of enjoying more serious literature as well as 'real life'..." The collection includes essays on Shelley, Dryden, William Morris, Shakespeare, Christianity and literature.