Hudibras, in Three Parts, Written in the Time of the Late Wars Samuel Butler; Zachary Grey [ed.] Poetry

An exceptionally lovely two volume late 18th century edition of Samuel Butler's satirical poem, illustrated throughout with engraved plates after William Hogarth. A lovely edition of Butler's poem 'In three parts', complete in two volumes.Illustrated with a frontispiece to each volume, eight plates to volume I, and eight plates to volume II. These are the work of William Hogarth, the celebratedpainter, engraver, satirist, cartoonist and writer.Collated, complete.Edited by Zachary Grey, an English priest, controversialist, and conservative spokesman for the Church of England.The poem tells the story of Sir Hudibras, a knight who is a fanatic for the Cromwellian cause, and his squire, Ralpho. The poem follows their adventures as they try to impose their strict moral and religious values on the people around them, often with disastrous and comical results.Rebacked, retaining the original calf boards, and marbled endpaper. Hinges reinforced. Reference library stamp of the Bedford Modern School to a front blank of volume I, with no further stamps.Written in a mock-heroic style, Butler's poem is a critique of the Puritanism that was prevalent in England during the mid-seventeenth century. Rebacked, retaining the original diced calf boards, and marbled endpapers. Externally, fine. Small lending library stamp to one front blank of volume I. Internally, firmly bound. Pages exceptionally bright, and generally clean, with significant spotting and instances of foxing to first third of volume I. Very Good Indeed