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SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe.
The Revolt of Islam; a poem, in twelve cantos.
Publisher: London: for C. and J. Ollier; by B. McMillan, 1818
Stock code: 44913
Price: £4,500 Currency Conversion
First edition under this title. In 1817 the Olliers agreed to publish Shelley's long poem, Laon and Cythna. Shelley's new father in law, William Godwin, recommended a master printer for the job, Buchanan Millan, who made minor alterations to the text without consulting the poet. Shelley wrote to the Olliers complaining about these liberties, whereupon the Olliers read the work for the first time and realised what they had agreed to publish. In the original version the titular lovers were brother and sister. London was alive with gossip about Shelley living with both Mary Godwin and her half-sister Claire Clairmont, and in contemporary usage, such a ménage was termed incest (St. Clair, The Godwins and the Shelleys, p. 432.) Shelley made alterations, removing any hint of incest, and gave it the new title The Revolt of Islam. The book is made up from original sheets of Laon and Cythna, with 26 cancelled leaves and a new title leaf. A few copies were issued with the title misdated 1817; this is the second issue as usual, with the correct date.
Demy octavo (210 × 130 mm). Finely bound by Rivière & Son c.1900 in red crushed goatskin, both covers tooled in gilt with stylised vines, onlays of grapes and other details in black morocco, spine with five raised bands, gilt lettering in two compartments and date at foot, other compartments infilled with five black morocco onlays and gilt dots all over, gilt rules to covers, board edges, and inner dentelles, dark blue coated endpapers, gilt edges. Protected in a contemporary fleece-lined purple morocco chemise, spine lettered in gilt, and marbled paper slipcase (slipcase rubbed). Half-title not called for; with fly-title with quote from Pindar. One or two trivial marks internally, the binding in fine condition.
