adams and dart bath first edition 1972 (2 results)

206pp. Index. 49 b/w photographs and 3 maps. Fine in fine dw.

Cloth, 8vo, 25 cm, viii, 70 pp. With a foreword by A.L. Rowse. From the blurb - "Peter Pindar, as the name suggests, was a fiction. He was a persona created by Dr John Wolcot, (1738 - 1819), Devonian, clergy-man, physician, art critic, journalist - a virtuoso in the grand tradition. An habitual versifier, he turned his hobby into a trade when, in 1781, he paid to have printed an anonymous verse satire (written by himself), announcing Peter's arrival in London. In 1782, the first in a series of 'Lyric Odes to the Royal Academicians' by Peter appeared, which gained wide popularity and appeared intermittently until Dr Wolcot's death. These 'odes' were original in offering art criticism cloaked in uninhibited buffoonery. He also added little metrical tales, the result being a variety of art criticism, old jokes, folk tales and current gossip. An important factor contributing to his popular success was his choice of George III as a target for satire, and his career rose and fell inversely with the popularity of the King. Peter Pindar's satires have been out of print for a considerable time; what gives them a permanent interest is their technique - the verses rarely suffer from repetition of form and exploit all kinds - epigrams, parodies, inscriptions, fables, etc., while the style is similarly varied and flexible. This selection of Peter's best poems has been made by Professor Zall in order to show his skill at caricature, narrative and song, and his adept manipulation of language." Very Good in slightly faded and price-clipped dustwrapper.