"Balaustion's Adventure; Including a Transcript from Euripides", by Robert Browning, published by Smith, Elder & Co, London, 1871. First Edition.

The copy of Sir Edward Tyas Cook with his ex-libris and autograph dated 1875 on both sides of the front endpaper.

Robert Browning was a British poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.

Browning represent his own interpretation of Euripides play within the framework of another speaker's consciousness. The story is set just after the defeat of the Athenian expedition against Sicily in 413 BC. A group of pro-Athenians from Rhodes, inspired by the young girl Balaustion, is intercepted on its voyage to Athens by a pirate ship and is forced to seek shelter in the harbor of Syracuse, where it is refused entry until it is discovered that Balaustion can recite a play by Euripides, who was greatly admired in Sicily although neglected in his native Athens. The play is Alcestis, a performance of which Balaustion narrates, mingling with the text her own comments and descriptions.

"Euripides might fear little; but, also, have an interest in the performance: and what wonder if I beg you to suffer that it make, in another and far easier sense, its nearest possible approach to those Greek qualities of goodness and beauty, by laying itself gratefully at your feet?"

Provenance:

Sir Edward Tyas Cook (12 May 1857 - 30 September 1919) was British journalist, biographer, and man of letters. He founded and led several newspapers, wrote numerous articles and published several books.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ---------- $8.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ----- $27.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ------ $37.50

Hard boards, original publisher's terra cotta cloth with gold stamping to spine [surface and shelf wear, some soiling: see photos]; 4.1/2" x 7"; Cook’s ex-libris inside front cover, Cook’s autograph on both sides of the front endpaper; 170 pages on heavy stock paper, a little soiling, tiny ink note on the side of page #2; small c.1/16" crease at the edge of two pages, a few page corner folds, good++/ very good condition.