The Poems of Ossian
Title: The Poems of Ossian
Author: James MacPherson, illustrations by Malcolm Laing
Publisher: Denham and Dick, Edinburgh
Date: 1805
3/4 Leather Bound edition(a modern rebinding) - In 2 Volumes
Additional Product Information
James MacPherson's translation into English of the supposed tales by Ossian, Gaelic Oisín, the Irish warrior-poet about Finn MacCumhaill (MacCool) and his war band, the Fianna Éireann.. First published in 1762.
It has been described as the greatest-ever literary hoax!
The poet James MacPherson was writing at a time when British Society was obsessed with the Classical World and supposedly used Irish folklore to create a Scottish legend to rank with Homeric epics.
Whilst Samuel Johnson condemned the work as a forgery others from Napoleon (Always carried a copy on his campaigns to Thomas Jefferson (Who wanted to learn Gaelic in order to be able to read the poems in their original language) and the Poets Wordsworth, Coleridge and Byron were taken in and trumpeted the work using it as inspiration for their Romantic ideals.
Condition Notes
A fabulous modern rebound 2 violume set of the James Ballantyne's 1805 edition. Morroco leather binding with bukram. Inside end papers with two-tone marbled paper.
The inside pages are in perfect condition and gilt edged along the top.
Please check the images associated with this Book to gain a clear insight into the book's condition and if you require further details please send an email enquiry.
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Shipping Information
Due to the value and weight of this edition, additional shipping costs may well be requested if shipping to a non UK Destination.