OWEN, Wilfred (1893-1918). Poems. London: Chatto & Windus, 1920.
Square 8vo. Photogravure portrait frontispiece. (Title-page toned from tissue guard, hinges slightly starting.) Original burgundy cloth, printed paper spine label (a touch of sunning to spine ends); dust jacket (chipped with losses at ends and fore-corners, spotting to panels, splitting along front flap fold).
FIRST EDITION of Owen's only book of poetry, published posthumously in 1920, remains one of the most searing testaments of the First World War. He was killed in action on November 4, 1918—just one week before the Armistice—without having seen a collection of his work in print. This work was edited and shepherded into publication by his close friend and literary mentor Siegfried Sassoon, with assistance from Edith Sitwell.
Found among Owen’s papers after his death, the Preface lays bare his uncompromising vision: "This book is not about heroes... The subject of it is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity." Published by Chatto & Windus, the first edition includes many of Owen's most enduring poems, such as “Anthem for Doomed Youth” and “Dulce et Decorum Est,” which helped redefine war poetry for the modern age. Connolly 100, 36; Hayward 337; Keynes B2.
This lot is located in Chicago.
