[Rarebooks] FS: Thomas Chatterton, Literary Forger- Gregory's 1789 Book

[Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA]

Gregory, G[eorge].  THE LIFE OF THOMAS CHATTERTON, with Criticisms on his
Genius and Writings, and a concise view of the Controversy concerning
Rowley's Poems.

London; G. Kearsley: 1789.

"The following pages were composed at the request of the respectable editor
of the Biographia Britannica, in order to be inserted in that valuable
work.  The author, however, requested leave to print off a small edition,
in a separate state, for the accommodation and satisfaction of a few
friends...".

George Gregory, a prolific writer and editor, claims to lay out the
controversy without favor to either side, but seems to distinctly doubt
Rowley's existence.  Thomas Chatterton is perhaps the best known
author/charlatan whose fakery turned to abject tragedy.  As a 17 year-old
unknown in 18th century England Chatterton thought, probably correctly,
that he would not be able to get anyone to pay much attention to his poetic
efforts, so he invented a 15th century monk named Thomas Rowley to whom he
attributed his poems.

Chatterton took a very serious approach to his work, writing his poems
first in 18th century English, and then painstakingly "translating" them,
with the help of several Anglo-Saxon dictionaries, into 15th century
English before carefully transcribing them onto old parchment.  It was the
"translating" that tripped him up, the forgery was soon detected and
denounced, and a despondent Chatterton committed suicide.

Since his work showed him to have had prodigious talent and promise, this
final act probably robbed the literary world of a great poet; and to this
day he has a devoted group of fans.

This title includes a very interesting bibliography, perhaps the first ever
published, of Chatterton's Rowley works and other books concerning them; it
also contains what Gregory describes as a "poem from a manuscript of
Chatterton, (which) the editor believes has never before been presented to
the Public"...it is 'The Art of Puffing, by a Bookseller's Journeyman'. ouch.

Hardcover.  5.5"x8.5", v + 263 pages, LACKS the engraved plate of
Chatterton's handwriting, and priced accordingly; bound in nice 18th or
early 19th century full leather with raised bands, floral gilt decorations
on the spine, and a quilted design with gilt rules blindstamped on the
front and rear boards; armorial bookplate; a fairly clean copy with
sporadic light foxing and nice wide margins. [05468]  $250.00

<http://www.joslinhall.com/images03/th-05468.jpg>


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