Alfred Austin — Haunts of Ancient Peace

London, Macmillan and Co, 1902. First edition. Leather. A first edition piece of idyllic prose by the then poet laureate, illustrated with nine plates and a frontispiece. Alfred Austin became Poet Laureate in 1896 after the death of Tennyson. Other candidates had ruled themselves out either by their conduct or their own will. His poetry is little remembered now, but pieces of prose such as this are still admired for their evocation of the beauty of the English countryside. He published his prose anonymously, but the authorship is well known. In half morocco with marbled boards and gilt to the spine. Externally a sound with slight rubbing. There are three contemporary ink signatures to the front pastedown. Lightly foxed here and there throughout. Generally firmly bound. Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Good .