Descripción
William Canton was a well-respected British writer, poet, and journalist. His poetry, which took much of its inspiration from advances in natural history , was highly esteemed by leading intellects of the day, such as Thomas Huxley, Max Müller and Walter Pater. Canton wrote a few religious texts and a few books that were aimed at a juvenile audience. These last were inspired by his daughter, Winifred, who is the W. V. of the title of the book here offered. This edition was published in 1897 by Stone & Kimball of New York. It is the second edition. "W. V. Her Book", though, is not so much a book for children as it is a grieving father's memories of his daughter, who had died suddenly at the age of ten. I have never known any parent to recover after the death of a child, and so it was with William Canton. "H. V. Her Book" is a series of prose pieces - that partake of memory and a sense of fantasy which his daughter imparted in their outings together. The other half of the book is a series of fine poems which have a feel of a sensitive soul. ****************** The book is remarkable, not just for the fine sensitivity which Canton exhibits in his prose and poems, but also for the beautiful pictorial cover with which the book is dressed. It shows a little girl of course it is Winifred holding a poppy while sitting amidst a dream landscape of poppies and streamlet. The picture, which was done after a design by John Henry Twachtman, is presented in shades of pastel pink, blue, gold (her hair), and white. The rear cover has the same picture. It is a most satisfying arrangement, in the Arts and Crafts Style - which is also suggestive of the French Poster Style. Inside, the book is graced with a frontispiece and a single illustration accompanying the text drawn by C. E. Brock, one of the most famous illustrators of the time. Altogether it is a lovely package, and one looks past the indignities of time and use that have softly afflicted the book, to the treasure that this book truly is. One could hardly that such a thing would be made in today's world. ****************************** TITLE : W. V. Her Book and Various Verses / AUTHOR : William Canton (1845 - 1926) / ILLUSTRATOR : C. E. Brock (Charles Edmund Brock, 1870 - 1938). [The artwork on the binding is not credited - it may be Brock , or it may not be Brock.] / IMPRINT : Stone & Kimball / PLACE : New York / DATE : 1897 (April) / EDITION : Second Edition / PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Illustrated trade hardcover; Contains 2 full-page drawings including one as a frontispiece, with tissue-guard; 150 pages; approximately 4 1/4" x 6 3/4"; pictorial paper-covered boards - title, etc.lettered in black and yellow on spine; top edge gilt, fore- and bottom edges rough cut. ************************* CONDITION - NEAR VERY GOOD - A well-read copy, but clean and presentable, the following noted: EXTERIOR - Modest surface rub - there is scattered small spotting and smudging - corner tips are bumped- nicking and small dents to board edges - - abrasion to joints and loss to spine extremities - there is cracking to the paper of the spine about half-way down, at which point is evidence of minor mending. / HINGES / BINDING - The book has obviously been read, and the text block is not nearly as tight as when first published - the leaves open widely, but no leaves are detached or loose - the binding must be considered fragile, and care taken when handling. / PAGE EDGES - Top edge gilding a bit rubbed. else clean END PAPERS - Basically clean - a former owner's handsomely inked signature displays on the front fly-leaf ( Anna Morgan Beechwood) [ Beechwood was a native of Utica, NY and a graduate of the Pratt Institute] / INTERIOR - Scattered small spotting and smudging - but basically clean and presentable - The illustrations display nicely. / DUST JACKET - None present (issued?). N° de ref. del artículo 420
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