Now, In Germany, Since Gellert, There Has As Yet
Been No Poet's Name Familiar To The People.
But the quick sale of
the classical authors is here promoted also by cheap and convenient
editions.
They have them all bound in pocket volumes, as well as in
a more pompous style. I myself bought Milton in duodecimo for two
shillings, neatly bound; it is such a one as I can, with great
convenience, carry in my pocket. It also appears to me to be a good
fashion, which prevails here, and here only, that the books which
are most read, are always to be had already well and neatly bound.
At stalls, and in the streets, you every now and then meet with a
sort of antiquarians, who sell single or odd volumes; sometimes
perhaps of Shakespeare, etc., so low as a penny; nay, even sometimes
for a halfpenny a piece. Of one of these itinerant antiquarians I
bought the two volumes of the Vicar of Wakefield for sixpence, i.e.
for the half of an English shilling. In what estimation our German
literature is held in England, I was enabled to judge, in some
degree, by the printed proposals of a book which I saw. The title
was, "The Entertaining Museum, or Complete Circulating Library,"
which is to contain a list of all the English classical authors, as
well as translations of the best French, Spanish, Italian, and even
German novels.
The moderate price of this book deserves also to be noticed; as by
such means books in England come more within the reach of the
people; and of course are more generally distributed among them.
The advertisement mentions that in order that everyone may have it
in his power to buy this work, and at once to furnish himself with a
very valuable library, without perceiving the expense, a number will
be sent out weekly, which, stitched, costs sixpence, and bound with
the title on the back, ninepence. The twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth
numbers contain the first and second volume of the Vicar of
Wakefield, which I had just bought of the antiquarian above-
mentioned.
The only translation from the German which has been particularly
successful in England, is Gesner's "Death of Abel." The translation
of that work has been oftener reprinted in England than ever the
original was in Germany. I have actually seen the eighteenth
edition of it; and if the English preface is to be regarded, it was
written by a lady. "Klopstock's Messiah," as is well known, has
been here but ill received; to be sure, they say it is but
indifferently translated. I have not yet been able to obtain a
sight of it. The Rev. Mr. Wendeborn has written a grammar for the
German language in English, for the use of Englishmen, which has met
with much applause.
I must not forget to mention, that the works of Mr. Jacob Boehmen
are all translated into English.
CHAPTER V.
London, 13th June.
Often as I had heard Ranelagh spoken of, I had yet formed only an
imperfect idea of it.
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