BRIDGES, Robert.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Eight Plays. First edition, from the library of Mandell Creighton (Bishop of Peterborough), together with an autograph letter requesting permission to dedicate the fourth play to him. Bridges's plays were first issued separately between 1885 and 1894 (with consecutive pagination). The final play was issued with a title page and dedication for those seeking to bind as a single volume, as here.Mandell Creighton (1843-1901) was a historian, priest and bishop. He was appointed Bishop of Peterborough in 1891 and Bishop of London in 1897. The Christian Captives, when first published in 1890, carried no dedication. The conclusion of the series of plays in 1894 enabled Bridges to "dedicate these plays in memory of old friendships". Other dedicatees included Hubert Parry, C. H. O. Daniel, and Andrew Lang. Bridges notes in his letter "I am just printing my 2nd part of Nero. It will complete the series, and with it I print general title, etc. I want also to print a dedication... May I dedicate one to you? And if so how shall I designate you?" Bridges also refers to health in his household and refers to his son, Edward Bridges (1892-1969): "we have had a bad time of it with whooping cough, which our baby had badly and is not yet more than much better"."Between 1885 and 1894 were printed in small editions eight plays, the writing of which was inspired by the poet's love of ancient literature, as may be seen from the titles: Nero Part 1, The Feast of Bacchus, Palicio, The Return of Ulysses

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