Author: HAZLITT (William):
Title: Liber Amoris: Or, The new Pygmalion.
Description: London, Printed for John Hunt..., 1823. FIRST EDITION, ?first issue. 12mo, 189 x 107, pp. iv, 192, and 20 blank leaves following last page of text, engraved title-page, contemporary half calf, marbled boards, gilt spine (rubbed), red and black morocco labels, with the arboreal bookplate of Lewis Kennedy Morse on the front paste-down end-paper and his autograph and date, 1918, on the recto of the front free end-paper. Morse (1869 - 1930) was the author of Melodies of English Verse. When Hazlitt met the daughter of his landlady, Sarah Walker, he fell in love with her instantly - and hopelessly. Barry Cornwall (aka B. W. Proctor) wrote of his infatuation, "To this girl [Hazlitt] gave all his valuable time, all his wealthy thoughts, and all the loving frenzy of his heart. For a time, I think that on this point he was substantially insane" Keynes 67. The bibliographical points that Keynes makes are not easily resolved in this instance. The title-page is a different paper from the text and has a smooth surface; but the inner edge is not pasted onto the following leaf. Neither D1 nor G8 appears to be a cancel: there are no visible stubs and the leaves are not pasted onto adjacent leaves.

Keywords: fiction autobiography literature


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