A Second Tale Of A Tub: or, The History of Robert Powell the Puppet-Show-Man

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[4] xlii [43] 219 [5] pages. 19.5 x 12 cm. The second edition appeared the same year. A political satire on the statesman Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford (1661-1724). It takes the form of an account of Martin Powell (fl.1709-29), the somewhat physically deformed, and noted Irish showman who ran a celebrated puppet-show in Covent Garden. It also, of course, adopts the title of Swift's celebrated Tale of a Tub (but is not recorded by Teerink-Scouten in the list of this work's spurious sequels etc). Powell is presented in the frontispiece as a hunchback, which appears to be true. The author's substitution of "Robert" for Powell's real name, Martin, made to render the obvious satire more effective. Burnet was an English wit; barrister and judge. He wrote this work at age 21 with his friend and colleague George Duckett. The allusion of puppet strings controlled by a higher power was a popular analogy of political machinations of the period. Engrave bookplate of John Collins, Devises. Contemporary owner inscription notes the satire's intent, some old scribbling on blank endpapers, moderate text toning. Contemporary full Cambridge style brown calf, tooled panels with tulip florets at each corner. Very good. N° de ref. del artículo 22622

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