CITY LEGENDS

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1889. First Edition. . Hardcover. Very Good/Issued Without Jacket. In the second half of the 19th century, Will Carleton, brought up in a log farmhouse in rural Michigan, was America's poet. Writing about ordinary Americans and everyday life, he enjoyed the same kind of success that Robert Burns had in Scotland. "Betsy and I Are Out," a poem about divorce, was picked up by a national newspaper and brought him widespread recognition, that was cemented by "Over The Hill To the Poorhouse," which brought attention to the shabby treatment provided to the country's old and poor. "City Legends" is Carleton's third collection of "city" related poetry and 17th collection overall. First Edition. About 6 3/4 x 9 inches, 170 pages, with 4 pages of publisher's ads. Bound in brown cloth-covered, bevel-edged boards with a green and gold-stamped pictorial decoration and gold lettering stamped on the front cover. Title, running the length of the book, is stamped in gold on the spine. All edges of text are gilded; 20 black & white illustrations, including frontispiece showing Statue of Liberty. Light wear to edges, spine ends and corners. Corners are lightly bumped. No tears, no chipping or scratching. Previous owner's name on fep, o/w text is complete, clean and unmarked. A very decent, collectable copy of this century-old book by a "poet of the people.