Specimens of the early English poets: to which is prefixed an Historical sketch of the rise and progress of the English poetry and language / [edited] by George Ellis

Specimens of the early English poets: to which is prefixed an Historical sketch of the rise and progress of the English poetry and language / [edited] by George Ellis

Published in 1803, George Ellis’ edited collection of poems reflects his cultural identity in that he grouped the poems by English monarchic reign. The collection of poems in Volume II is organized according to these four monarchs: Henry VIII, (which the book notes is “continued”, possibly pointing to the previous volume containing works produced during his reign) Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth’s section contains the most poets and poetry because she reigned for the longest period of time. If grouping poems by monarch rather than by year isn’t interesting enough, the editor used another peculiar method of organizing the poems within each monarch’s reign. They are neither organized alphabetically nor chronologically. For example, In Queen Elizabeth’s section, Raleigh’s work precedes Marlowe’s. This is neither organized alphabetically nor a chronologically. Perhaps the editor ordered them this way because of the importance of the poet to the monarch in power when the poet published his works. Perhaps the editor placed them in this order according to his own predilections. Each of the four monarchic-ordered sections begins with a historical description of that monarch’s reign. Each subsection, by poet, also begins with a historical description of the poet. What is interesting about Christopher Marlowe’s introduction is the fact that it describes his death, but not his murderer, Ingram Frizer. Similarly, the introductions admit a lack of information in certain areas, as made evident by the editor assuming the year of Marlowe’s birth. Similarly, the editor claims Marlowe died before 1593, when in fact he died that year (David 527).

The volume pictured here is volume II. The inside of the front and back covers, the first page, the last page, and the outside edges of each page (visible when the book is closed) are decorated with overlayed spots of colorful paint. These designs appear to be depictions of the night sky. The book’s covering is made of calfskin and is embossed according to a rectangular design, including a rectangular framing of gold tooling. The binding is ribbed; between these ribs are what appear to be floral decorations and patterns etched into the leather.

George Ellis, Esq., 1753-1815, was a Jamaican born poet, prose writer, editor, antiquary, and member of the English parliament. Also known as Sir Gregory Gander. Held a long-standing correspondence with Scottish poet, Sir Walter Scott (“Ellis, George, 1753-1815”).

Further Reading:
Ellis, George, Esq. “Bath: Its Beauties, and Amusements (1777).” Proquest Literature Online. 1992. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&xri:pqil:res_ver=0.2&res_id=xri:lion&rft_id=xri:lion:ft:po:Z000346607:0. Accessed 21 November 2016.

“Ellis, George, 1753-1815.” Proquest Literature Online. 2015. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2003&xri:pqil:res_ver=0.2&res_id=xri:lion&rft_id=xri:lion:ft:ref:BIO000735:0&rft.accountid=27975. Accessed 21 November 2016.

Wootton, David. “The Review of English Studies.” The Review of English Studies, 54.216, 2003, pp. 527–528. New Series, www.jstor.org/stable/3661518.

Ellis, George 1753-1803

London : Printed by W. Bulmer and co. for G and W. Nicol

1803

Johnny Vaccaro
Mark Robbins
Betsy Lizotte

3 v. ; 19cm.

English

http://catalog.wrlc.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=4104541