William Wordsworth — The Recluse

London, Macmillan and Co. 1888. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of a previously unpublished introductory verse to what would be Wordsworth's magnum opus. The first edition of The Recluse, the never before published first part to a planned masterpiece, written by celebrated Romantic poet and Poet Laureate, William Wordsworth. Published in 1888, believed to have been written in 1798. In the publisher's original green cloth. Intended as his magnum opus, the Recluse was an ambitious three-part project reflecting Wordsworth's ideals on the relationship between man and nature. While its first part was an unfinished manuscript never published until this edition, the introductory blank verse and second part would later become his most celebrated works, The Recluse and The Excursion respectively. In the publisher's original green cloth. Externally, mostly smart, with a couple of faint marks to boards. Bumping to the head and tail of the spine, and to the extremities. Spotting to end papers. Mild strain to front end paper hinge but firm. Internally, firmly bound. Faint creases to bottom extremities of leaves pp.25-38. Pages are bright and mostly clean, with spots to first couple and final leaves, and a colour pencil scribble to verso of prefatory advertisement leaf. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .