Edward Thomas — The Woodland Life

Edinburgh and London, William Blackwood and Sons, 1897. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of Edward Thomas' first book - Woodland Life. Scarce. Thomas was just 19 when it was published. Second and only normally seen state of the cover with the decorative panel. Philip Edward Thomas (3 March 1878 – 9 April 1917) was an Anglo-Welsh poet and essayist. He is commonly considered a war poet, although few of his poems deal directly with his war experiences. Already an accomplished writer, Thomas turned to poetry only in 1914. In 1915, he enlisted in the British Army to fight in the First World War and was killed in action during the Battle of Arras in 1917, soon after he arrived in France. With 2 pages of publisher's advertisements to the rear of the volume. Variant binding with dark green pastedowns. There seems to be no clear priority between the two binding states. In a green cloth binding in an acetate protective covering. Externally, generally smart, lightly rubbed in places. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with some scattered light foxing. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .