The Ring and The Book Robert Browning Poetry

A smart first edition set of Robert Browning's epic dramatic poem The Ring and The Book, in a vellum binding. Complete in four volumes. First edition. A long dramatic narrative poem and a verse novel of 21,000 lines, telling the story of a murder trial in Rome, Papal States in 1698. The poem comprises twelve books, ten of which are dramatic monologues spoken by different characters involved in the case, with the first and last spoken by the author. The plot follows an impoverished nobleman, Count Guido Franceschini, who is found guilty of the murders of his young wife Pompilia and her parents, having suspected his wife was having an affair. He appeals to Pope Innocent XII to overturn the conviction. Written by Robert Browning, an English poet and playwright who was the husband of fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Considered a sage and philosopher-poet, whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian poets, his works often fed into Victorian social and political discourse. Bound in full vellum. Externally, very smart with light wear and minor discolouration to the extremities, as is typical with ageing. Boards lightly buckled. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright with the odd small spot. Minor age toning to the endpapers with a few spots. Very Good Indeed