The Midnight Court and The Adventures of a Luckless Fellow, Brian Merriman

£120.00

The Midnight Court and The Adventures of a Luckless Fellow, Brian Merriman

Name: The Midnight Court and The Adventures of a Luckless Fellow, Brian Merriman
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6113
Price: 120.00 GBP
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The Midnight Court and The Adventures of a Luckless Fellow, Brian Merriman — 1st Edition

Publication: London, Jonathan Cape, 1926

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 79.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is bound in the publisher's original orange cloth with a printed paper title label affixed to the spine. The cloth remains bright and well-preserved, displaying only minor shelf-wear, slight bumping to the corners, and a touch of gentle fading to the spine. The spine label is somewhat toned and lightly chipped at the extremities, yet the printed text remains entirely legible. Internally, the binding is tight and secure. The untrimmed deckle edges and pages are predominantly clean, with just a hint of faint age-toning and isolated spotting to the endpapers, typical of the paper stock. Overall, a highly presentable and structurally sound copy, offered without the dust jacket.

Catalogue Note: First edition thus. This volume pairs Brian Merriman's famous eighteenth-century comic poem Cúirt an Mheán Oíche (The Midnight Court) with a lesser-known work by Denis Macnamara (Donnchadh Ruadh Mac Conmara), both translated into English by Percy Arland Ussher.

This 1926 publication by Jonathan Cape is particularly notable for featuring an original introduction by W. B. Yeats, cementing its importance in the Irish Literary Revival as part of a larger project to reinterpret Ireland's Gaelic heritage for modern audiences. The text is further complemented by evocative woodcut illustrations by Frank W. Peers.

Copies of this first edition, particularly those in highly presentable condition without severe damage to the fragile paper spine label, have become increasingly scarce on the open market.

A spirited and highly readable translation of a masterpiece of Irish comic verse. Brian Merriman's The Midnight Court is a riotous, Rabelaisian vision in which the women of Ireland summon the men to a dream-court to stand trial for their reluctance to marry and their general romantic shortcomings. Brimming with verbal dexterity, bawdy humour, and a remarkably modern perspective on desire and social conventions, this classic of Gaelic literature is presented here alongside another rollicking tale, The Adventures of a Luckless Fellow. Bolstered by a profound introduction by W. B. Yeats, this volume serves as a vital and uproarious bridge to Ireland's rich poetic past.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Brian Merriman, Percy Arland Ussher

Book Publisher: Jonathan Cape

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 79

Book Publication Year: 1926

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Frank W. Peers

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.