William Cowper — The Task a Poem

London , James Nisbet and Co. 1878. Cloth. An illustrated edition of The Task by William Cowper. Illustrated by Birket Foster. William Cowper (26 November 1731 – 25 April 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 a purple cloth binding with gilt lettering to the spine. Externally, generally smart, lightly rubbed in places. Spine is slightly sunned. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean with some scattered light foxing. There is an ink inscription to the recto of front free end papers, dated 1906. Good . Ill.: Birket Foster. Good .