A Group of Five Works; Including Hebrew Melodies, The Siege of Corinth, Manfred, Don Juan, Werner
London: various, 1815-1823. First Edition. 5 volumes. Hebrew Melodies (1815)—first edition, first issue with advertisement for Jaqueline as called for by Wise, contemporary drab paper wrappers, trimmed to 5.25" x 8.25", very good; The Siege of Corinth (1816)—first edition, rebound in crushed brown morocco gilt, rubbed but very good; Manfred (1817)—first edition, third issue, contemporary drab brown paper wrappers, uncut, stain to front wrap, some chipping to extremities, light foxing on initial gathering, else very good in cloth box; Don Juan, Cantos I and II only (1819)—first volume of the first octavo edition, uncut in original brown paper-backed boards, original label chipped but partially present, rubbing and chipping to boards, light foxing throughout, else very good; Werner (1823)—first edition, second issue, brown paper wrappers with later paper backing, very good. Item #1265
This group is a tight assemblage of Byron's most prolific and controversial decade, from the lyrical Hebrew Melodies through his final completed drama. Hebrew Melodies (1815) emerged from Byron's collaboration with Jewish composer Isaac Nathan, transforming biblical themes into Romantic verse that would influence generations of poets. The Siege of Corinth (1816) represents Byron's Oriental tales at their narrative peak, blending Romantic exoticism with his firsthand knowledge of Greek landscapes and Turkish culture acquired during his Eastern travels.
Manfred (1817) marks Byron's most sustained engagement with metaphysical drama, presenting a Faustian hero consumed by guilt and supernatural defiance—a work that profoundly influenced European Romanticism and established the archetype of the Byronic hero in its purest form. The presence here of Don Juan's opening cantos (1819) is particularly significant, as this satirical masterpiece would eventually grow to sixteen cantos and represent Byron's most ambitious challenge to poetic and social conventions. Published anonymously due to its scandalous content, Don Juan transformed the epic form into a vehicle for comic irreverence, sexual frankness, and devastating social critique that outraged British society while securing Byron's reputation as England's most dangerous poet.
Werner (1823) came near the end of Byron's life, composed while he was already planning his fatal journey to aid Greek independence. This Gothic tragedy, adapted from a German source, demonstrates Byron's continued experimentation with dramatic form even as his energies turned toward revolutionary politics. Together, these works document Byron's evolution from lyric poet to dramatic innovator to satirical genius, capturing the restless creativity that made him both the most celebrated and most scandalous literary figure of the Romantic age.
Price: $2,800.00