Born on April 5, 1837, in the year of Queen Victoria’s accession, of
which the whole nation is now celebrating the Jubilee, Algernon Charles
Swinburne to-day attains the jubilee or fiftieth year of his own
life, and may be therefore claimed as an essentially and exclusively
Victorian poet. Of the half-century of life now completed, more than
a quarter of a century has been devoted to fruitful and noble work
in song and to work hardly less fruitful and noble in the field of
criticism.
In issuing this new edition, revised throughout and brought down to
date, of a bibliographical record originally published nearly four
years ago, the compiler cannot deny himself the pleasure of associating
with the date the coincidence, not only of a double jubilee, but also
of a double birthday, viz., his own.
Long distant may the day be when this record, already so goodly an one,
can be made complete in a final sense, and collectors of the books of
our greatest Victorian poet and critic be able to echo Lord Melbourne’s
callous expression of grateful relief that they can bind him up!
As on former occasions, the compiler invites the co-operation of
literary correspondents, and will be grateful to anyone who will
correct an error or supply an omission.
_A few large-paper copies, with India proof portrait, in imperial 8vo.,
parchment-paper covers, price 7s. 6d._