Les Heures du Soir (Evening Hours)
Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1911. Limited edition. Hardcover. 435/550. Quarto. 36 (2)pp. Original light brown three quarter leather over brown boards with gilt lettering in gilt decorative framing on cover, gilt lettering and tolling on spine. Gray endpapers. Publisher's device on title page. Gilt ribbon marker. Printed at Spamer in Leipzig in an edition of 550 on heavy cotton rag paper, with 50 copies printed on Japan paper. Typography and vignettes and binding were designed by Henry van deVelde.
The Belgian poet and critic was one of the founders of School of Symbolism and a spokesperson for the revival of art at the turn of the century. After acquiring his law degree Verhaeren frequented the Brussels art scene of young radical writers and artists. He decided to devote his life to literature and poetry, having appeared in court only twice. Verhaeren was nominated six times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Verhaeren married Marthe Massin in 1991 and is said to have expressed happiness in three poetry books: Les Heures Claires (1896), Les Heures d'Après-midi (1905) and Les Heures du Soir (1911). Text in French. Light wear along edges with light bump at top right corner. Lightly starting at page thirty-six. Very good condition. Item #48293
Price: $175.00