Author: SAMMELBAND: SCOTT (John). KEATE (George). GERRARD (John)
Title: Amwell: A Descriptive Poem. By John Scott, Esq. The Second Edition.
Description: London: PrinTed for Edward and Charles Dilly. 1776. 4to, 271 x 210 mms., pp.[iv], 28, including title-page, engraved vignette on title-page, engraved tail-piece. BOUND WITH: KEATE (George): The Monument in Arcadia: A Dramatic Poem, In Two Acts. London: Printed for J. Dodsley..., 1783. FIRST EDITION. 4to, 271 x 210 mms., pp. [vi] vii - x [xi blank, xii "Persons of the Drama"], 43 [44 blank]. including half-title. BOUND WITH: GERRARD (John): Poems. London: Printed for the Author; And SOld by G. Kearsly..., 1769. FIRST EDITION. 4to, 271 x 210 mms., pp. [v] vi - xx, 112, including half-title and list of subscriber. 3 volumes in 1, bound in contemporary calf, neatly rebacked, gilt title on spine; front free end-paper detached at inner margin, but a very good copy. The Quaker poet John Scott (1730–1783) had a reasonably successful career as author, and this work led the Monthly Review to describe it as an "easy and melodious poem...[and] this elegant poem, " concluding rather confusingly, "We have spoken with better information of this performance because we know the different landscapes described, but we have not spoken in better terms of it because we know the Author; yet even had this been the case, whoever else knows him, would have held us almost excusable." The painter and artist George Keate produced a large body of work, and enjoyed a number of favorable reviews of his work: The Monthly Review gave Arcadia this endorsement: "There is a simplicity of interest, scenery, and character in this little Poem, which renders it truly Arcadian; and the classical air assumed by the Pastoral Muse giver her a very graceful appearance. The story is simple and tender." John Gerrard (active 1769) is described on the title-page as John Gerrard, Curate of Withycombe in the Moor, Devon. He gathered just under one hundred subscribers for this work, and The Monthly Review found it an agreeable work: "Nothing can be more agreeable to pay to merit its proper tribute of praise, and we gratefully make our acknowlegments for that satisfaction to Mr. Gerrard. The Curate of Withycombe has given us a collection of poems, which, a few little defects and inaccuracies excepted, would do honour to the first names." One item did not, however, please the reviewer: "What pleases us the least in this collection is, the poem called the Beatific Vision. Poetry may go beyond common facts, but ought never to go beyond common sense."

Keywords: poetry landscape literature


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