William Somervile — The Chase

London, George Redway, 1896. First edition. Cloth. A pleasing copy of this Hugh Thomson-illustrated edition of William Somervile's pioneering poem, 'The Chase&apos. The first Hugh Thomson illustrated edition of this poem.Reprinted from the original edition of 1735, with a memoir of the author. In the publisher's original cloth binding.Illustrated with eight plates and numerous vignettes from Hugh Thomson, an Irish artist best known for his pen-and-ink illustrations of works by authors such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and J. M. Barrie. Collated, complete. This poem, written in Miltonic blank verse, traces the history of hunting up to the Norman Conquest of England, with reference to kennel design, hare hunting, stag hunting, otter hunting, and the breeding and training of dogs.The well known work of English poet William Somervile, noted for pioneering early English georgic.  In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, very smart, with mild rubbing and bumping to the extremities. A couple marks to the boards. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and generally clean, with scattered spotting to the first and last couple leaves. Very Good . Ill.: Hugh Thomson. Very Good .