Chaucer

1700 · 1008H5 — London: Jacob Tonson 1700 . First edition. Leather. Good. 12" by 7.5". None. The first edition of Dryden"s final major work translating classical and medieval sources into influential Augustan verse in a contemporary full calf binding. In a contemporary full calf binding. Half-title is present. First edition.A volume of fables translated by John Dryden. John Dryden's important collection of classical and medieval poetry translated here by himself. This was Dryden's last and one of his greatest works.Including the poetry of Ovid Geoffrey Chaucer Giovanni Boccaccio and Homer with selections from their works 'Iliad' 'Metamorphoses' and 'The Canterbury Tales' alongside some of Dryden's own works.The Chaucer works appearing in this work were modernised by Dryden who confessed that he didn't understand Chaucer's Middle English prosody which he proclaims to in the preface.With this work Dryden aimed to increase the reputation of English literature by adapting these classic works. All the translations to this work are in Dryden's heroic couplet.John Dryden was a popular seventeenth century English poet and literary critic. His talents in Restoration England landed him the position of England's first Poet Laureate in 1668. In a contemporary full calf binding. Externally a little worn. Hinges cracked with loss to calf. Front board almost detached holding at three cords loose but holding. Rubbing and bumping to extremities resulting in loss to calf and slight loss to boards. Slight loss to head and tail of spine. Bookplate of Pakington Geo Tomkyns to front paste down. Slight loss to upper corner of front free endpaper. Hinges weak. Internally text block generally firmly bound. Hinges strained in places. Pages characteristically age toned but notably bright for the period. The odd spot heavier to first and last few leaves. One or two minor handling marks to fore edge. Slight loss to upper corner of final two leaves not affecting the text. Good Jacob Tonson hardcover