Peer Gynt: A Dramatic Poem Illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1936. Undated; circa 1936. Almond colored leather three-quarters of front board wrapping around spine to one quarter at rear; remainder of thick durable boards is ruddy red cloth with checkered pattern weaved in. Highly unique cover design features stylized titles, image of Gynt scored to leather in line-work emanating from vortex surrounded by orbs and irregular stars impressed in dark brown w/dark green streak projected to cover's edge which is passing through three-quarter green disc. Four thick raised bands at spine. Deckled pages very good, clean; no writing. Frontispiece plate of "Peer Before the King of the Trolls. Bind good; notched hinges intact. Features one dozen richly colored plates with captioned tissue guards. In addition, profusely illustrated with headers, tailpieces, partial-page vignettes throughout. Among the masterpieces of world literature, this early verse drama by the celebrated Norwegian playwright humorously yet profoundly explores the virtues, vices, and follies common to all humanity — as represented in the person of Peer Gynt, a charming but irresponsible young peasant. Based on Norwegian folklore and Ibsen’s own imaginative inventions, the play relates the roguish life of the world-wandering Peer, who finds wealth and fame - but never happiness - redeemed by love in the end. As the play opens the young farmer attends a wedding and meets Solveig, the woman who is eventually to be his salvation. However, the rascally Peer then kidnaps the bride and later abandons her in the wilderness. This dismal performance is followed by adventures in many lands. After these soul-chilling exploits, an old and embittered Peer returns to Norway, eventually finding solace in the arms of the faithful Solveig. Imbued with poetic mysticism and romanticism, in Peer we find a rebellious character in search of an ultimate truth that always seems just out of reach. In this sense Peer can be seen as an alter ego of Ibsen himself, whose lifelong search for artistic and moral certainties resulted in the great later plays (Hedda Gabler, The Wild Duck, An Enemy of the People, etc.) Opening scene: "The action, which begins in the early years of the ninteenth century and ends somewhere about 1867, takes place partly in the Gudbrandsdal and on the surrounding mountain-tops, partly on the coast of Morocco, in the Sahara Desert, in the Cairo Lunatic Asylum, at sea, etc." From colophon: "Printed in Edinburgh - the text in Bembo type by R & R Clark, Limited, and the colour plates by Messrs. McLagan & Cumming." 256 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Half-Leather. Very Good. Illus. by Rackham, Arthur. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.