Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Marino Faliero, Doge of Venice. An Historical Tragedy, In Five Acts. With Notes / The Prophecy of Dante, A Poem [WITH THE ORIGINAL BINDING]

Byron, Lord

London: John Murray, 1821. First edition. Hardcover. Quarto (91 /4 x 5 3/4"). XXI, [1], 261, [1], [2]pp (Adv.). Uncut. Original paper covered boards, with printed title on spine.

Set in Venice in 1355, "Marino Faliero, Doge of Venice" is a blank verse tragedy in five acts by Lord Byron, who was inspired to take on this subject when, on examining the portraits of the Doges in the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, he discovered that the portrait of Faliero had been blacked out.

The play tells the story of recently elected Doge of Venice Marino Faliero, who offends one of the chief officers of state, Michel Steno. Steno retaliates by writing on the Doge's throne an indecent libel on Faliero's wife. For this he is tried by the Council of Forty and convicted, but is only sentenced to a month's imprisonment. Faliero is so outraged by this, as he believes, inadequate punishment that he secretly joins in the conspiracy of a group of malcontents to overthrow the constitution of Venice, thinking thereby to gain revenge on his enemies. The plot is discovered and Faliero is executed.

The main historical source Lord Byron drew on was Marino Sanuto's "Vite dei Doge" (published posthumously in 1733). He completed the play in July 1820, by which time he was living in Ravenna, and published it in April 1821, along with his "The Prophecy of Dante."

Written at Ravenna during the month of June 1819, "The Prophecy of Dante" was intended for the Italians as a vision of "liberty and the resurrection of Italy" (see Medwin, "Conversations," (1824), page 241).

Our copy is the first edition, first state, with the original paper covered binding, and the Doge's speech at page 151, only 5 1/2-line long.

Binding rubbed along edges, with some abrasion to spine. Title label sunned. Very few pages heavily foxed, otherwise, minor to moderate foxing throughout. Binding in overall good-, interior in good to good+ condition. g- to g+. Item #41489

Price: $950.00