Rhymes a la Mode
Hard Cover. London: Kegan Paul, Trench and Co., 1885. Limited. Near Fine.
First edition, limited issue of 50 numbered large paper copies, signed by printer Charles Whittingham of the Chiswick Press. Finely bound in full chestnut morocco by Zaehnsdorf, with five raised bands to the spine, gilt lettering to spine, top edge gilt, board edges ruled in gilt, gilt inner turn-ins, gold patterned endpapers, printed on laid paper. About near fine, with some light wear and rubbing to the extremities, a hint of light rubbing and minor dimming to the spine, some light soiling to the otherwise bright boards, minor offsetting to the endpapers, former owner's bookplate to the front flyleaf, otherwise extremely fresh and clean interior. A bright and attractive copy in a lovely binding. Rhymes a la Mode is a collection of poetry and verse by Andrew Lang. Specifically, it includes four longer poems, a section of short humorous verses entitled "Rhymes a la Mode," and thematic sections with verses related to art, science, and cameos, respectively. Rhymes a la Mode effectively demonstrates Lang's many diverse talents, and especially his knowledge of classical texts; despite being best known for his collected fairy tales, Lang was a versatile writer, working also as a poet, historian, literary critic, and anthropologist. For example, many of the verses included in the "Cameos" section are "versions from classical passages" after works by Sophocles and Aeschylus. Similarly, even Lang's most lighthearted verses are laden with allusions to antiquity and ancient mythology.
Item #AL004
Price: $750.00
