Poems
NY: Century, 1888. First. Cloth. First edition. The author's first (and only) book, a collection of poems, many of which are set in the deep South and relate various aspects of 19th century Negro life. Includes "Christmas Night in the Quarters" which was also the title of the Negro operetta Russell composed. The author, who died in 1879 at age 26, was recognized by such literary figures as Joel Chandler Harris who, in his introduction to this book wrote, "...Irwin Russell was among the first---if not the very first---of Southern writers to appreciate the literary possibilities of the negro character, and of the unique relations existing between the two races before the war..." A tight, fine copy, the patterned endpapers a bit wavy, neat gift inscription on first blank "J.F. Lane/ Aprill 1888/ from W.P." Fine. Item #D8380
Price: $125.00