Old Book Monday - June 11
Quite a few book bloggers participate in a weekly meme in which they share delicious and mouth-watering pictures of the new books they have recently received. I love strolling through the blogosphere and checking out these pictures. I don’t buy a lot of new books but realized I could still participate by sharing pictures of what I do buy a lot of—OLD books. Hence, “Old Book Mondays”
This week’s “Old Book Monday” features my favorite copy (one of many) of one of my all-time favorite works: "Idylls of the King" by Alfred Lord Tennyson (1956 edition). I don't even remember where I found this copy--undoubtedly at one of the many antique stores that I love to visit.
This one is particularly intriguing because of the box (in excellent condition), the soft "leatherette" cover with beautiful gold gilt writing (and the tops of the pages are dark blue), and the plastic wrap over the cover. This is an outstanding edition, in a nice slim trim size that makes it easy to hold.
If you've never read Idylls of the King...THE HORROR! One of the most beautiful and emotiona poetic tales ever, I cannot read Idylls without a box of tissues. The two saddest selections? The end of the "The Last Tournament," when all Arthur's work is coming undone as his knights cast aside all their vows, following the example of Lancelot and Guinevere. Mark has just killed Tristam, one of Arthur's greatest knights (who happened to be sleeping with Mark's wife), in a cowardly and weak way (snuck up and struck him from behind) and the Queen, unbeknownst to Arthur has fled with Lancelot.
That night came Arthur home, and while he climb'd,
All in a death-dumb autum-dripping gloom,
the stairway to the hall, and look'd and saw
The great Queen's bower was dark--about his feet
A voice clung sobbing till he question'd it,
"What art thou?" and the voice about his feet
Send up an answer, sobbing, "I am thy fool,
And I shall never make thee smile again."
Then, in "Guinevere," the Queen has sought sanctuary in the Abbey. Arthur, on his way to the last battle with Modred stops, to say his last goodbyes and his speech to her just breaks my heart.
Then thy shameful sin with Lancelot;
Then came the sin of Tristram and Isolt;
Then others, following these my mightiest knights,
And drawing foul ensample from fair names,
Sinn'd also, till the loathsome opposite
Of all my heart has destined did obtain,
And all thro' thee! so that this life of mine
I guard as God's high gfit from scathe and wrong,
Not greatly care to lose; but rather think
How sad it were for Arthur, should he live,
To sit once more within his lonely hall,
And miss the wonted number of my knights,
And miss to hear high talk of noble deeds
As in the golden days before thy sin.
What about you? Have any recent book acquisitions you want to share?
For even more book love, visit some of the sites participating in any of the following "weekly book haul" memes:
-Stacking the Shelves - hosted by Tynga's Reviews
-Unpack This - hosted by Mostly Reveiws