[Rarebooks] FS: Chatterton & other Literary Forgers

Joslin Hall Rare Books, ABAA office at joslinhall.com
Thu Mar 8 07:50:05 EST 2007


>From the Special Section on
FAKES, FRAUDS & FORGERIES
in our new MARCH CATALOG-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog_296.htm>

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Hare, Maurice Evan (ed.). "THE ROWLEY POEMS BY THOMAS CHATTERTON REPRINTED
FROM TYRWHITT'S THIRD EDITION"  Oxford; Clarendon Press: 1911. 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; to this day he has a
devoted group of fans. This book is based on the third (1778) edition of
Chatterton's poems compiled by Tyrwhitt, his first editor. It also
includes an extensive biography and appreciation of Chatterton's work, and
an interesting and opinionated bibliography. Hardcover. 5.5"x7.5", 333
pages, dj; a bright copy with only the lightest wear, in a slightly
spotted and soiled jacket. [05379] $75.00



Farrer, J.A. "LITERARY FORGERIES" London; Longmans, Green and Co.: 1907.
Come travel through the disgraceful annals of that blackest of
blackguards, the literary forger. These ne'er-do-wells have flourished
since ancient times, and Farrer chronicles some of the more interesting,
both well-known as well as obscure, in this informative and entertaining
chronicle. We have Chatterton, Ireland and Madame de la Motte, of course,
as well as wily old Constantine Simonides; Psalmanazar, the "Formosan";
Lauder, who tried to disgrace Milton; and all manner of forged ancient
ballads, early histories, fake Byronic letters, and much more. Hardcover.
6"x9", 282 pages, original dark blue cloth with a gilt device. Light soil,
a little wear. [30781] $85.00


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