Rare THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM – BENET, STEPHEN VINCENT – Henry Holt and Company, New York – 1921 [Hardcover] BENET, STEPHEN VINCENT

Description

1921 edition. Hardcover has significant wear, scuffs, small marks, stains and small tears. No dust jacket. Spine has significant reading creases and wear, small tears on top and bottom. Pages have some marks and small tears on some pages but largely are clean and the binding is secure.

This well-worn copy of Stephen Vincent Benét’s “The Beginning of Wisdom” offers a glimpse into the early career of one of America’s most celebrated poets and storytellers. Published in 1921 by Henry Holt and Company, this collection of verse was Benét’s second book, following his 1916 debut “Five Men and Pompey.” While not as widely known as his later works like “John Brown’s Body” and “Western Star,” these early poems showcase Benét’s lyrical talent and diverse range, exploring themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

As a hardcover from the initial print run, this copy holds particular value for collectors seeking to trace Benét’s artistic evolution. Despite its weathered exterior, the intact binding and largely clean pages invite readers to immerse themselves in the timeless words of a writer who would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize and become one of the preeminent voices of 20th-century American literature.