Poems and Prose by The Penge Poet
1899, the poetry of Joseph Gwyer, one of the world's worst poets
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
Third edition, Diamond Jubilee Edition (second edition pages in a third edition binding). Hardback, bound in maroon cloth with gilt titling to spine and both boards. All edges gilt. 19 × 12cm, 354pp.
Joseph Gwyer, the Penge Poet, is acknowledged as one of the worst poets ever to have put pen to paper (and then compounded the crime by having them published). This book collects his poems and prose, some in honour of royal events, other commemorating disasters (there's an awful lot of verse about shipwrecks), and others celebrating the natural world. Also included are his comments of C H Spurgeon (he was a zealous Baptist).
Some examples: "The larks were warbling forth their lays / In songs of sweetest, loudest praise"; "The chaffinch chirp, and cawing rook / I put their music in my book", "Here the infant and the sage / We both enshrine within our page" and "A few things we note with care / At Broadstairs saw Regatta there, / The little boats so swiftly rowed / And calmly too the water showed."
The book carries fascinating Victorian adverts throughout.
Condition
A good copy. There is light rubbing and bumping to the cloth boards. The inner binding is a little weakened in places, with one gathering neatly detached but the remainder firmly in place. The book remains in strong readable condition (should you wish to subject yourself to the poems...)
Price
£60.00
