Matthew Arnold — Merope. A Tragedy

London, Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts , 1858. First edition. Cloth. A smart presentation copy of Matthew Arnold's epic poem of Greek mythology, rarely found signed. The author's presentation copy, with a signed inscription to the half title: "with the author's very kind regards". First edition.In the original blind-stamped cloth binding. This tragedy utilises the style of Greek poetry and uses a Greek story as its subject - the Athenian princess, Merope.From English poet and cultural critic, Matthew Arnold, who is often regarded as a sage writer, commenting on social issues of the time in his works. In the preface, Arnold offers an account of the three great modern tragedies that have been written on his subject of Merope and discusses the structure of the Greek drama.This copy previously held by the Society of St John the Evangelist, an Anglican religious order for mem founded in 1866 at Cowley, Oxford, England. Known colloquially as the Cowley Fathers, the society was the first stable religious community of men to be established in the Anglican Communion since the English Reformation. In the original blind-stamped cloth binding. Externally, with minor damp stains to the boards. Back strip lifting to the head and centre of the spine. Bookplate to the front paste down; 'E Libris Soc. S. Johan Evang. Apud Cowley Oxon', with ink impressed 'Cancelled' over it. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are generally bright and clean, with spotting to the endpapers. Author's ink inscription to half title. Good . Ill.: None. Good .