WHITTIER, JOHN GREENLEAF.

Snow-Bound. A Winter Idyl.

Boston, Ticknor and Fields, 1866. Orig. Red-brown full cloth w. gilt ornamented title to front board and back. Capitals worn, bdg. w. some soiling. Internally occational brownspotting. W. the frontispiece-portrait of Whittier and woodcut title-vignette. Old owner's name on front free end-paper ("Minne Brockett/ 1866/ New Haven").

First edition, first issue w. the page number at the foot of page 52 (dropped in the second issue). Whittier's most famous book and a main work of 19th century American litterature. John Greenlef Whittier (1807-1892) was a highly estimeted Quaker poet, in the honour of whom several New England states had holidays, and after whom the State Whittier, California is named. He was a forceful antislavery crusader, who fought hard for the abolition of slavery in America, and he was immensely popular in his lifetime. The first issue is quite scarce. "No poem has ever been read aloud with greater appreciation around the fireplace than this simple sincere photographic depiction of a country New England family and New England household life of the first half of the nineteenth century. Few lines have afforded more solace in time than the passage on p. 21 beginning: "Alas for him who never sees/ The stars shine through his cypress trees!". (One Hundred Influential American Books Printed before 1900 No. 73).

Order-nr.: 32143