A PREFACE TO PARADISE LOST Being the Ballard Matthews Lectures Delivered at University College, North Wales, 1941 Revised and Enlarged (First edition - early third impression - in original dustwrapper)

C. S. Lewis, M.A. (Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford)

Edité par Oxford University Press, Amen House, London E.C.4, 1943

A propos de cet article

A scarce early third impression of the true first edition, published in 1943. The book was originally published during the Second World War in 1942, with a second impression also published in 1942. With a two-page Dedication to Charles Williams written by C. S. Lewis. The book was published under wartime economy restrictions, but has thicker paper than the earlier 1942 impressions - as compared with a 1942 first impression which we also had listed on ABE Books - since sold (please see scans for comparison). ***A very good copy in bright-green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The gilt is still beautifully bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. The boards are clean - only slightly marked with some browning and foxing spots to the top edges of the front and back boards. The page block edges are clean, with just some light foxing. Head and tail of spine virtually uncreased. Corners sharp. There is no reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also very good with no previous ownership marks or annotations. Please note that there is some heavy foxing affecting the endpapers and first and last couple of pages (please see scans), but the interior pages are completely clean. The paper stock is clean and is much whiter than is usually found for this book (which is normally found with tanned paper stock). No tears or creasing. ***In a very good green and white printed dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 7s. 6d. net. The dustwrapper is complete, with just very slight rubbing and wear at the top and tail of the spine and the corner tips. There is very little other loss - just some rubbing at the edges, but none of the creasing and tears to the extremities that is usually found with this book. The white areas of the dustwrapper have turned cream with age, and are moderately foxed and browned, with a couple of brown marks on the spine. The spine colour is unfaded. ***140 pages with a three-page Index at the back of the book. 186mm x 128mm. ***Contents: Dedication, I. Epic Poetry, II. Is Criticism Possible?, III. Primary Epic, IV. The Technique of Primary Epic, V. The Subject of Primary Epic, VI. Virgil and the Subject of Secondary Epic, VII. The Style of Secondary Epic, VIII. Defence of this Style, IX. The Doctrine of the Unchanging Human Heart, X. Milton and St Augustine, XI. Hierarchy, XII. The Theology of Paradise Lost, XIII. Satan, XIV. Satan's Followers, XV. The Mistake about Milton's Angels, XVI. Adam and Eve, XVII. Unfallen Sexuality, XVIII. The Fall, XIX. Conclusion, Appendix, Index. ***'This book is called a Preface because its main purpose is to remove those obstacles to the enjoyment of "Paradise Lost" which have recently been accumulating. It is therefore much concerned with preliminaries--with the possibility of criticism, the nature of epic, the theology and pneumatology of the poem, and, above all, the Hierarchical Principle. As regards the content of "Paradise Lost", the author has found it his chief duty to encourage simplicity and restore the belief that Milton may, after all, have hated what he displays as hateful. The defence of its form resolves itself into a plea that ritual, and splendour, and joy itself, have a right to exist.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper). ***An early wartime third impression of the true first edition, complete in its original dustwrapper. Early impressions of this book in their original dustwrappers are extremely hard to find now. This copy is in remarkably good condition, albeit with the aforementioned foxing.

N° de réf. du vendeur 9478

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: A PREFACE TO PARADISE LOST Being the Ballard Matthews Lectures Delivered at University College, North Wales, 1941 Revised and Enlarged (First edition - early third impression - in original dustwrapper)
• Éditeur: Oxford University Press, Amen House, London E.C.4
• Date de parution: 1943
• Langue: anglais
• Reliure: Hardcover
• Édition: First Edition
• Impression: Third Impression
• État de l'article: Very Good
• État de la jaquette: Very Good
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Literature
  • First Editions
  • Wartime & Post War Publishing 1939-1950