Porius. A Romance of the Dark Ages
London, Macdonald & Co., 1951 [first thus].
Octavo, xx (last blank), 682 pages with a frontispiece portrait.
Publisher's half morocco and cloth, spine gilt in compartments, with contrasting leather title-labels, top edge gilt (the binding by George Bayntun of Bath); spine a little sunned; an excellent copy.
Number 49 of 200 copies signed by the author. An initial blank is inscribed to 'Littleton C. Powys from The Publishers. Oct 6, 1951 (Mr E.H.R. Hervey)'. John Cowper Powys (1872-1963) had a brother, Littleton Charles Powys (1874-1955); doubtless this was his copy. The book is one of 'two major historical novels set in Wales, "Owen Glendower" (1941) and "Porius" (1951).... [The latter] takes place in the time of the mythic King Arthur (A.D. 499). However, Arthur is a minor character compared with the Welsh Prince Porius, and the King's magician Myrddin (Merlin). In both works, but especially "Porius", Powys makes use of the mythology found in the Welsh classic "The Mabinogion". "Porius" is, for some, the crowning achievement of Powys's maturity, but others are repelled by its obscurity' (Wikipedia).
Item #111004
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