“DEEPLY INTERESTING FROM BEGINNING TO END”

(SYMONDS, John Addington) BROWN, Horatio F. John Addington Symonds: A Biography. London: John C. Nimmo, 1895. Two volumes. Octavo, mid-20th century three-quarter burgundy morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt. $650.

First edition of the “model biography” of the noted historian, poet and early advocate of the validity of male homosexuality, handsomely bound by Duttons.

Best known in his day for his magisterial, multi-volume history of the Italian Renaissance (1875-86) and remembered today as one of the earliest male authors to write self-consciously of his own homosexuality, Symonds "bequeathed his papers to the care of Mr. Horatio F. Brown, the historian of Venice, who, by a skilful use of the autobiography (which Symonds had commenced in 1889), of diaries and of letters contributed by friends… produced a model biography, executed on a large scale, but deeply interesting from beginning to end" (DNB). Illustrated with frontispiece portraits and seven plates.

Volume I with joints expertly reinforced. Handsomely bound.