Rosenberg, Isaac. Youth [collection of poems]

AUCTION 42 | Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Hebrew Printed Books, Manuscripts, Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 54
(ANGLO-JUDAICA).

Rosenberg, Isaac. Youth [collection of poems]

FIRST EDITION. Twenty-two poems pp. 18 (i.e. 16). Crisp, clean copy. Original printed wrappers, faded around edges. 8vo

London: I. Narodiczky 1915

Est: $700 - $1,000
PRICE REALIZED $700
Isaac Rosenberg (1890-1918) is considered to be one of the greatest of all British war poets. His contemporary, Siegfried Sassoon, described his poetry as a "fruitful fusion between English and Hebrew culture." While others wrote about war as patriotic sacrifice, Rosenberg was critical of the war from its onset. However, he enlisted in the army and was assigned to the the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He was sent to the Somme on the Western Front in France and was killed at dawn on April 1st, 1918. His "Poems from the Trenches" are recognised as some of the most outstanding written during the First World War. Rosenberg is among 16 Great War poets commemorated in Westminster Abbey's Poet's Corner. Youth is Rosenberg’s second work, privately printed for the author by I. Narodiczky in one hundred copies. See J. Cohen, Journey to the Trenches (1975) p. 117