MILNES (Richard Monckton), first Baron HOUGHTON.

The Earl and the Duchess, A Dialogue, Translated and Adapted from De Musset's Proverbe, "Il faut q'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée,"expressly for Representation at Nuneham, in July, 1850; and dedicated to Frances, Countess of Waldegrave.

[London.] Privately printed by Harrison and Son. 1851. First and only edition. Original pink wrappers. 8vo. pp. 16. The four-times married Lady Waldegrave (her preferred name and style) was one of the period's major society hostesses. From a modest theatrical background herself, she enjoyed amateur dramatics and after her marriage to George Harcourt in 1847, private theatricals became a feature of her parties given at Nuneham Park, Oxfordshire. To suit the light-hearted atmosphere of a house party, the pieces which she selected were generally translations and adaptions of French vaudevilles. An eye-witness would describe these events as "the liveliest of times." The politician and man-of-letters, Richard Monckton Milnes, the translator and adaptor of this play, is now best remembered for his life of Keats (1848). "The Earl and The Duchess" is very rare with no copies recorded in COPAC or NUC. Wrappers slightly faded at edges, otherwise in nice condition.

• GBP 350.00 > autres monnaies
• Commande nro.: 8065

• libraire: John Hart (GREAT BRITAIN)