The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate, Macmillan and Co., 1890. Prize binding signed by the English literary critic, Andrew Cecil Bradley

This handsome Glasgow University prize volume was awarded for English Literature in 1891 and personally signed on the presentation label by Andrew Cecil Bradley (1851-1935), subsequently one of the most distinguished English literary critics of his generation. Bradley had joined the University of Glasgow in 1889 and taught English Literature there until 1901, before becoming Professor of Poetry at Oxford. He achieved lasting prominence through his studies of Shakespeare, particularly Shakespearean Tragedy (1904), which became one of the most influential works of Shakespeare criticism of the twentieth century. The presentation label is completed in manuscript for Carolus Gulielmus Thomson [Charles William Thomson], for Litt. Angl. (Litterae Anglicae - English Literature), and personally signed "A. C. Bradley" by Bradley. Bound in an attractive contemporary full calf prize binding by Maclehose of Glasgow.

The choice of Tennyson is particularly appropriate to its presenter. Bradley became an important Tennyson scholar and in 1901 published A Commentary on Tennyson's In Memoriam, a substantial critical study of the poet's great elegy. This 1890 Macmillan volume brings together the works of Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892), Poet Laureate and one of the defining literary figures of the Victorian age, encompassing the lyric, narrative and dramatic poetry upon which his contemporary reputation was founded.

One of a remarkable group of Glasgow University prize volumes awarded between 1889 and 1895 to Charles William Thomson (1871-...), a notably distinguished student who won fifteen University prizes and graduated M.A. Thomson subsequently pursued a prominent career in Scottish education, serving as Rector of several schools including Larkhall Academy, and was also an author and advocate of Scottish national interests. A founding member and later President of the Scottish Patriotic Association, he is best remembered for his substantial two-volume historical work Scotland's Work and Worth (1909-10). His identity and academic record have been confirmed from the matriculation, prize and General Council records held by the University of Glasgow Archives & Special Collections.

The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate.

Published by Macmillan and Co., London and New York, 1890. Printed by R. and R. Clark, Edinburgh.

A very good full calf leather hardback with gilt Glasgow University roundel to front and upper compartment of spine. With gilt and blind-stamped borders to covers and elaborate gilt tooling to spine. Raised bands and red morocco title label. Some light shelf wear and scuffing to leather and wear to head of spine. Joints a little rubbed, but all soundly bound.

With marbled endpapers and matching marbled text block edges. A University prize presentation label to the front pastedown records the award to Carolus Gulielmus Thomson in the 'Litt. Angl.' class in 1891, and is personally signed "A.C. Bradley" by Andrew Cecil Bradley.

The text is bright and clear throughout, with just a few light spots to endpapers and title spread. With portrait frontispiece of Tennyson. On a blank endpaper at the rear are lightly taped two clippings of Tennyson poems: Crossing the Bar (1889), his celebrated meditation upon approaching death, and The Silent Voices (1892), one of his final poems, written in the year of his death. The latter post-dates this 1890 edition and was evidently added by a later reader.

A most attractive volume.

Text in English.

v + 807pp.

Dimensions: approximately 190mm high x 134mm wide x 39mm deep.

Weight: Approximately 782g (unpacked).