William Cowper — Poems

Edinburgh, W M'William; P Brown, 1817. Leather. A Poems by William Cowper with a portrait of the author to frontispiece to volume one. First published in 1782. In two volumes complete. William Cowper (1731 - 1800) was an English poet and hymnodist. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. In many ways, he was one of the forerunners of Romantic poetry. Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. Previous owner's ink inscription to front free endpapers. In calf bindings. Externally, sound but with slight wear to extremities, slight rubbing and marks to boards, spine labels lifting and slightly chipped. Three hinges slightly strained. Internally, firmly bound. Bright and generally clean throughout but with occasional very slight foxing and handling marks. Good . Ill.: None. Good .