The Ring and the Book
London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1868-69. First Edition, First Printing. Four Hardcovers Volumes in Slipcase.
A MURDER TRIAL THAT BECAME A LITERARY MASTERPIECE.
Robert Browning's The Ring and the Book stands as the crowning achievement of his poetic career. Inspired by the records of an actual Roman murder trial of 1698, Browning transforms the case into a monumental verse narrative of more than 21,000 lines, examining truth, justice, motive, and human character through multiple conflicting perspectives.
The poem follows the trial of Count Guido Franceschini, accused of murdering his young wife, Pompilia, and her adoptive parents after suspecting her of infidelity. Rather than presenting a single version of events, Browning allows each principal figure to recount the story, creating one of English literature's earliest and most sophisticated psychological narratives.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF BROWNING'S MASTERWORK.
Publisher's green cloth, gilt-lettered on the spines. First issue with Volumes I and III numbered in Roman numerals and Volumes II and IV in Arabic numerals on the spines, housed in a matching cloth slipcase.
Collation: Four 16mo volumes measuring approximately 6¾ × 4 inches.Issued in four volumes as first published.
+++ Volume I: [iv], 245, [1] pages
+++ Volume II: [iv], 251 pages
+++ Volume III: [iv], 249 pages
+++ Volume IV: [iv], 235 pages
CONDITION: VERY GOOD. The bindings remain tight and sound. Volume I has a tear at the headcap with cracked hinges. Contemporary ownership signatures dated 1869 appear on the front endpapers. The advertisement leaf is creased. Intermittent foxing occurs throughout the set, consistent with age. Moderate shelf handling wear is present, but the volumes remain an attractive and complete first edition housed in the matching slipcase.
LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE: BROWNING'S POETIC MASTERPIECE—THE WORK THAT SECURED BROWNING'S REPUTATION.
Published between 1868 and 1869, The Ring and the Book marked the turning point in Robert Browning's literary career, establishing him among the foremost English poets of the Victorian era. Drawing upon an authentic seventeenth-century Italian murder case, Browning transformed historical documents into an ambitious exploration of morality, justice, and the nature of truth.
A REVOLUTION IN NARRATIVE POETRY.
Rather than presenting a single authoritative account, Browning allows each participant to interpret the same events from a different perspective. This innovative structure anticipated later developments in psychological fiction and modern narrative technique. Its enduring reputation is reflected in the admiration of later writers, including R. L. Stevenson, who called it 'one of the noblest books of the century,' while William Dean Howells regarded it as 'one of the few great poems whose splendor can never suffer lasting eclipse.'
SUBJECTS: Robert Browning, The Ring and the Book, Victorian Poetry, Dramatic Monologue, First Editions, English Literature, Roman History, Psychological Literature, Murder Trials, Pope Innocent XII, Victorian Literature, English Poetry, First Editions, Literary Classics, Fine Literature, Nineteenth-Century Literature.
Bibliographical References: Kunitz & Haycraft 87; Watson 443.
Item #22324
Price: $525.00
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