[Rarebooks] FS: The Rowley Poems of the Forger Thomas Chatterton

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

"The Rowley Poems by Thomas Chatterton reprinted from Tyrwhitt's Third
Edition"

Edited by Maurice Evan Hare.

Published at Oxford by the 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, dust jacket; a bright, tight copy with
only the lightest wear, in a spotted and soiled jacket.  $74.50

The covers =>

<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-30779-cover.jpg>
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images30/th-30779-jacket.jpg>

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