TASSO . Discorsi. c.s. lewis's copy, 1587.

[LEWIS, C. S. (1898-1963)] - Torquato TASSO (1544-1595). Discorsi del ... Tasso. Dell' Arte Poetica; et in particolare del Poema Heroico ... gli uni, e l'altre scritte nel tempo, ch'egl compose detto suo Poema [Edited by Giovanni Battista Licinio].Venice: Giulio Vassalini à Ferrara, 1587. 4to (180 x 134 mm). Roman and italic types. Printer's woodcut device on title, decorative head- and tail-pieces, woodcut initials. Early 18th-century vellum over pasteboard, titled in gilt on spine. Condition: worktrack to leaves from T1-Aa3; some worming to inner hinges and spine. Provenance: C.S. Lewis (pencilled signature on front pastedown, underlinings, pencilled key on the verso of the rear free endpaper, gift from Lewis to an Oxford Don). c.s. lewis's copy of the first edition of this important work on poetry and madness: edited by Licinio, this work includes Tasso's discourses on the art of poetry, with a group of Tasso's letters to his friends written from the madhouse. The letters confirm that he had a serious mental disease and that he was conscious of it. The work is not in Renouard, but according to Gamba it was printed in the Aldine Press types. The pencilleed underlinings and marginal marks, together with the pencilled key at the back, all suggest that this was a work of importance to Lewis that he studied with some care. Adams T-228; Gamba 971.