IRVING, Washington, "Geoffrey Crayon" (Pseudonym)

The Alhambra.

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Henry Coburn and Bentley, London, 1832. Two volumes, octavo; very fine in contemporary black straight-grain morocco, covers framed with an outer gilt Greek key border and an inner blindstamped foliate border, each spine with gilt decorated broad raised bands, two calf lettering pieces, and three very appealing blindstamped panels filled with rows of closely spaced knurled ornaments, marbled edges and endpapers. First edition, a very fine copy.

Although he was born to struggling immigrant parents in New York City, Irving (1783-1859) became a sophisticated citizen of the world, first as a traveller in England, France, and Germany, and later as a political apointee, serving in the American legations in London and Madrid. His writings, accomplished in an amicable and fluent style, earned international recognition; partly because they were often set in foreign locales (as is the case with the present item), they formed one of the first literary bridges established between Old and New Worlds. Written during Irving's residence in Spain in 1829, "The Alhambra" is a collection of 41 sketches about the famous Moorish palace of that name located in Grenada. Once graceful and elegant, but now decaying, the palace provided the author with a vehicle for a romantic consideration of departed grandeur, a theme not readily available to him in America. There is some dispute over whether the American or English printing has priority.

• AUD 3,000.00 > 其他币种价格
• 订书号：: 002_014

• 书商: Hordern House (AUSTRALIA)