The Pleasures of Imagination. A Poem. In Three Books.
London. J. Dodsley. 1765. Soft cover. 8vo, 22cm, xi,136p., engraved title-page illustration, preliminaries dust worn, title page torn away along fore and bottom margin, (not effecting text), pp.134/135 torn along fore margin slightly effecting text, untrimmed, corners turned down, lacking half-title & wraps(?), spine roughly taped, internally very good (ds1). ~ An early edition of Akenside's didactic poem. First published in 1744, the work was completely rewritten by the poet in 1757. His design is given in the preface "There are certain powers in human nature which seem to hold a middle place between the organs of bodily sense and faculties of moral perception: They have been called by a very general name, The Powers of Imagination." Before publication the publisher, Dodsley, submitted the manuscript to Pope who assured him that this was "no everyday writer". Dr. Akenside was a prominent English physician and was appointed physician to the queen under the reign of George III. Item #30283
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