The History of English Poetry, From the Close of the Eleventh to the Commencement of the Eighteenth Century

London: J. Dodsley; et al, 1775-81. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 11" by 9". None. Thomas Warton's immensely important and extensive history of the development of English poetry, a wonderful work, Volumes II and III in this set being a first edition. Complete in three volumes. Later editions had additional volumes. Volume III includes the 88 pages of Volume IV and the index. Volumes II and III are the first editions, Volume I is the second edition.'The History of English Poetry' is an influential and pioneering work of literary history, delving into the long history of the art of poetry in England. Warton only penned these three volumes, however he had planned to continue the work to the eighteenth century. Volume III discusses Elizabethan poetry, with only a fragment of Warton's Volume IV ever being written. This work is generally known as the first narrative English literary history. Warton's account of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance remained unrivalled for decades.Interestingly this history is considered to have played a part in steering the literary tastes of Britain towards the Romantic.Thomas Warton is best known for this work, though he was also the Poet Laureate from 1785 to 1790.Four page leaflet of a poem, 'The Board's Head Song', bound after page 142 of Volume III, with the inscription 'This was fruited by my friend Philip Bliss, Esq, Fellow of St. John's, Oxford 1815, J.W.'.Bookplate of F. J. Cuthbert to the front paste downs, institutional label of the Grosvenor Gallery Library to the front paste downs. In a half calf binding with marbled paper to the boards. Externally, smart, with some rubbing to the boards, resulting in some loss of paper. Some light marks to the boards and spines. Light bumping to the extremities. Small loss to the head of the front board of Volume III. Bookplate and library label to the front paste downs. Prior owner's ink poem to the verso of the front endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very lightly age-toned and clean with some odd spots. Prior owner's ink inscription to the head of the title pages. Very Good