COLERIDGE: RIME of ANCIENT MARINER/GUSTAVE DORE ILLUSTRATED/ENGLAND/RARE $100+

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COLERIDGE: RIME of ANCIENT MARINER/GUSTAVE DORE ILLUSTRATED/ENGLAND/RARE $100+ THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER. IN SEVEN PARTS. BY SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE. ILLUSTRATED BY GUSTAVE DORE. New York: The American News Company, circa 1880. Rare. A handsome 19th century book, with the striking illustrations of Dore. Published more than 125 years ago, this book is now rare and highly sought-after, selling for more than $120. Such a nice copy is not likely to come up for sale again soon on ebay. From the Preface: "The Ancient Mariner is the "most graphic of Coleridger's poems," to use the language of Freiligrath, and was written in the year 1798, that annus mirabilis in which were born the finest specimens of verse to which the prolific fancy of Coleridge gave expression. He ived at the time in Somersetshire, at the fot of the Quantock Hills, at no great distance from the residence then of Wordsworth, with whom eh became intimate, and whose association doubtless had its influence upon coleridge's muse Indeed, this poem was one of those which were produced in accordance with an agreement entered into by Wordsworth and him to contribute a series of "Lyrical Ballads" to a certain literary publication in which they were both interested. The Reverend Alexander Dyce stated that the "Ancient Mariner" was foundedupon a dream which a friend of Coleridge had, who fancied he saw a skeleton ship with figures in it." From the Text: "Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was born at Ottery St. Mary, Devonshire, on the 21st October, 1772. His father was a clergyman of amiable charactre and simple habits, settled as vicar of that parish. Here he continued many years, a constant student forgetful not only of the distant world but of the things about him; and here his wife died, leaving three daughters, children, to whom he gave a secon dmother by marrying Anne Bowdon, who seems to have been all that second marriage require. Besides, she quickly increased the number of the vicarage household and the last of her ten children appearing by year, was the poet. Samuel's recollection of Ottery St. Mary and of his father were vivid, although the Rev. John Coleridge, died before his son completed his seventh year, at which time the family must have left the place. Before he was nine his mother died also, and as the living was not a very rich one, and Anne Bowdon had only added to the vicar's riches in another direction, the orphan family were in some difficulties, which friends mitigated by getting the youngest into the Blue-goat school in London a year after. Unaccustomed to many luxuries, easily contented, and absent-minded, like his father, even from childhood, his life at Christ's Hospital during the nine years spent there was rendered harder by the habits of the school and the character of the head master, of whom charles Lamb, then also wearing the yellow stockings, has left a vivid and alarming picture. Coleridge was eighteen and a half when he was entered at Jesus College, Cambridge, not a very strong or active outh, having just before been attacked by illness; a premature genius either, leaving next to no hidden treasures of verse among his papers; not yet likely to be first in classics, although his previous attainments enabled him to take a prize for a Greek ode. Worldly wisdom we must not expect, so he immediately got into rouble on account of the price of hte furniture he took over his rooms..." Illustrations include: ----This soul hath been; Alone on a wide wide sea;; The Mariner hath his will; The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot chuse not hear; IT ate the food it ne'er had eat; Water, water every where, Nor any drop to drink; A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared and neared; "The game is done! I've won, I've won!" Quoth she, and whistles thrice.; And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony; Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse, And yet I could not die; And the rain poured down from one black cloud; It ceased; yet still the sails made on A pleasant n... read more

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