The Vision of Piers the Plowman, William Langland — 1st Folio Society Edition

£99.50

The Vision of Piers the Plowman, William Langland — 1st Folio Society Edition

Name: The Vision of Piers the Plowman, William Langland — 1st Folio Society Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4402
Price: 99.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, The Folio Society, 2014

Formatting: Large 8vo, pp. [xvi], 356, [approx. 50 notes & gloss].

Condition Report: Fine. The quarter-goatskin leather spine remains exceptionally rich and unrubbed, with the gilt titling bright and wholly unoxidised. The pictorial buckram boards are wonderfully clean, entirely free from edge-wear, rubbing, or bumping, and the binding is square and firmly tight. Internally, the Caxton Wove paper is pristine; the pages display no foxing, toning, or internal markings, retaining a crisp, unread quality throughout. The book is housed in its original, plain green slipcase which is in near-fine condition, exhibiting only the faintest signs of shelf-wear.

Catalogue Note: This handsome 2014 Folio Society edition presents one of the most significant works of Middle English literature, beautifully typeset in Miller. The volume pairs the original B-text of the poem with the highly regarded 1990 modern English translation by E. Talbot Donaldson. It is enhanced by striking, intricate wood engravings by artist Harry Brockway, which perfectly capture the medieval, allegorical spirit of the text.

The physical production of this edition is notably premium. It was printed on Caxton Wove paper at Memminger MedienCentrum AG in Germany and quarter-bound in genuine goatskin leather by the esteemed binders at Lachenmaier in Reutlingen. The front board features a stunning, blocked design by the artist in gold, brown, and black. Given its superb production values, this particular edition is highly sought after by collectors of Folio Society bindings and medieval literature alike.

Written in the late 14th century, The Vision of Piers the Plowman is a masterpiece of Middle English allegorical poetry that stands alongside The Canterbury Tales as a pillar of early English literature. The narrative follows the dream-visions of a man named Will as he embarks on a profound theological and social quest to discover the true Christian life. Through his encounters with a vibrant cast of allegorical figures, ranging from Truth and Reason to the Seven Deadly Sins, Langland crafts a searing satire of corruption within the Church and state, while simultaneously offering a deeply moving exploration of faith, labor, and humanity.

Book Condition: Fine

Book Authors: William Langland

Book Publisher: The Folio Society

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Poetry

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 2014

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Quarter Leather)

Illustrator: Harry Brockway

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Memmingen, Germany

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.