Phantasmion

London: William Pickering, 1837 387pp. One of 250 copies printed. Scarce first edition of the ground-breaking fantasy novel by Sara Coleridge (1802-1852), the only daughter of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). Sara Coleridge was a self-taught classical scholar who also learned French, German, Italian and Spanish. She put this to excellent use in her acclaimed 1822 translation of Martin Dobrizhoffer's "Account of the Abipones", about his missionary travels in South America. She also began writing works for her children, which were later published. *** Her longest orginal work, Phantasmion, is a precursor to George MacDonald's "Phantastes" (1858). In both works, the protagonist is met by a spirit-like form who introduces him to a world parallel to our own, focused on the natural world and it's powers. *** In turn, the works of George MacDonald were a major inspiration for C.S.Lewis's Narnia books, "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe", etc. *** In publisher's three-quarter leather binding, with five raised bands to spine and git decorations. *** Condition: About Good. Outer hinges cracked. Edges of boards worn. Heavy foxing to endpapers, which affects title page. Watson3, 515. Bleiler, 246. Wolff 1316.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Good.