A wonderful association copy of this early pocket-sized British edition of Leaves of Grass, owned by the Whitman admirer and ‘Georgian Laureate’, Lascelles Abercrombie, who “deepened and ennobled English metaphysical poetry” (‘noble’ a term Abercrombie himself used of Whitman’s poetry).
The British poet, academic and literary critic, Lascelles Abercrombie, FBA (1881–1938) was an important figure in the Georgian scene: “recognized as a leading poet of the new generation, distinguished for his lyrical power and speculative daring,” he was praised by Robert Bridges, while Yeats devoted eight pages of the Oxford Book of Modern Verse (1936) to his poetry (ODNB). Post-WWI, Abercrombie turned to academia and literary criticism, holding various Chairs of English Literature, including a Professorship at the University of Leeds, to which he pipped J R R Tolkien in 1922.
Clearly a significant collection for the Dymock poet, it seems to have been passed on to his third son, Ralph Abercrombie (1914-1968), also a critic, and bookseller (although, one of Lascelles’ brothers was also a Ralph).
Myserson identified three binding styles for the first printing of this eighth English edition: this appears to be Binding B. Priced at one shilling it was issued in Scott’s Canterbury Poets series. Ernest Rhys had written passionately to Whitman about the need for a new cheap edition – “What I—& many young men like me, ardent believers in your poetic initiative—chiefly feel about this is however, that an edition at a price which will put it in the reach of the poorest member of the great social democracy is a thing of imperative requirement.” – to which the American agreed in November 1885, but only to be sold in England. The edition proved popular, with Whitman later endorsing a letter from Rhys about a second edition in September 1886 with: “the little English selection... is out since, & the whole edition (10,000) sold” (Whitman cited in Myerson).
Myerson A2.8.a; ‘Ernest Rhys to Walt Whitman, 7 July 1885.’ The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price.
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