Lord Byron [George Gordon Byron, 1788-1824) — Werner, A Tragedy

London John Murray, Albemarle-Street | Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars First Edition, Second Issue pp. viii, [1-5], 6-188. Slim octavo (14 x 23 cm). Lovely contemporary three-quarters polished calf over vibrant marbled paper boards; gilt rules and lettering to the spine, fresh endpapers. An uncommonly attractive copy, the extremities showing only the slightest wear, contents equally and remarkably well preserved, with bright, clean, unmarked leaves and firm, sound binding; near fine. An exceptionally well-preserved offering of the first edition, second issue complete with “The End” and imprint on p.188. Lacking the usual seven leaves of publisher’s advertisements at the rear, their absence perhaps a likely consequence of later rebinding (as binders frequently discarded such matter). See OCLC #1247641973. ¶ A handsome copy of one of Byron’s final works, published just over a year before his death. While often overshadowed by his earlier famous poems like Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Werner is generally scarcer in commerce, particularly in such clean condition. A five-act verse tragedy based on Harriet Lee’s "Kruitzner," a story Byron had admired since his youth. Set in 1648 at the close of the Thirty Years' War, the plot follows an exiled nobleman trying to reclaim his stolen inheritance. Although Byron wrote it to be read rather than acted, it surprisingly became his most successful stage play years later; premiering to great acclaim at Drury Lane in 1830 (starring the famous actor William Macready) and remained a theater favourite for decades.