73. Adonais | An Elegy On The Death Of John Keats, | Author Of Endymion, Hyperion Etc. | By | Percy. B. Shelley | [Quotation] Pisa | With The Types Of Didot | MDCCCXXI.
Charles Ollier, the publisher, received the following interesting letter from Shelley, dated at Pisa, June 8, 1821:
"Dear Sir,—You may announce for publication a poem entitled "Adonais." It is a lament on the death of poor Keats, with some interposed stabs on the assassins of his peace and of his fame; and will be preceded by a criticism on "Hyperion," asserting the due claims which that fragment gives him to the rank which I have assigned him. My poem is finished, and consists of about forty Spenser stanzas. I shall send it you, either printed at Pisa, or transcribed in such a manner as it shall be difficult for the reviser to leave such errors as assist the obscurity of the "Prometheus." But in case I send it printed, it will be merely that mistakes may be avoided; [so] that I shall only have a few copies struck off in the cheapest manner."
The latter course was finally decided upon. The manuscript was sent to the printer at Pisa on June 16, 1821, and the first finished copy, in a blue, ornamented paper wrapper, was received July 13. This was not slow work, and the more remarkable when it is known that there are very few printer's errors in the book. This accuracy is due to the great pains Shelley took in revising the proofs.
The volume, and especially the untrimmed copies measuring 10×7½ inches, are beautiful in appearance. There is a certain marked peculiarity in the typography, however, which is explained by Mr. Forman in this way: "The frequent dashes, which seem to have exactly the value usual with Shelley, are all double the usual length, except in two instances. The fact is that, in Shelley's bold writing, these dashes were very long: the English printers would understand this; but Didot's people seem to have followed them literally; and the book being boldly printed, this peculiarity would not be likely to strike Shelley in revising."
The name of the press at Pisa is not given; the fact that the "Types of Didot" were used does not of course necessarily mean that the Didots had an office there, as Mr. Forman would seem to imply.
In the preface Shelley speaks as if he had changed his mind about issuing the criticism of Hyperion with this volume, as he planned to do in the letter to Ollier. "It is my intention to subjoin to the London edition of this poem, a criticism upon the claims of its lamented object to be classed among the writers of the highest genius who have adorned our age." No London edition is known, however.
The poem was first printed in England in the columns of the Literary Chronicle for December 1, 1821, where it was appended to a review; but in this form stanzas XIX to XXIV were omitted. The earliest separate reprint bears the impress Cambridge: Printed by W. Metcalfe, and sold by Messrs. Gee & Bridges, Market-Hill. MDCCCXXIX.
Two quotations from an interesting unpublished letter, belonging to a member of the Grolier Club, show that Ollier, who had been the publisher of most of Shelley's works, had copies of the Pisa book for sale, shortly after it was issued; the letter is addressed to "Meſsr. Ollier & Co., Booksellers Vere Street, Bond St., London, Angleterre," and reads:
"Bagni. July 27. 1821
"Dear Sir
"I send you the bill of lading of the box containing Adonais: and I send also a copy to yourself by Mr. Gisborne who probably will arrive before the Ship ... The work I send you, has been seen in print by Mr. Gisborne, & has excited, as it must in every one, the deepest interest.
"Dear Sir, Yours very truly
"P. B. Shelley."
Quarto.
Collation: 25 pp.