c1920 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Description

Illustrated, Leather Binding

In a full tree calf binding. 

With a prize inscription to the recto of front endpaper, 'Peter Pleydell Bouverie. Wellington House. Christmas 1981.' 

Comprising the complete works of the Bard of Avon, with a biographical introduction and glossary. 

Peter Pleydell-Bouverie was the son of Jacob Pleydell-Bouverie, 6th Earl of Radnor. He married Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie in 1938. This book is therefore from from the library at at Julian’s Park which was purchased by Audrey in 1940. Pleydell-Bouverie was the youngest daughter of an Anglo-American lumber and steel millionaire. Audrey was also alleged to be the illegitimate granddaughter of King Edward VII, although she was also rumoured to be his daugher, or the lover of King Edward VIII. Audrey was a patron of the arts and it is believed that she bound several books herself, as many books from her library were stamped with her name and she owned a group of bookbinding tools. Her circle of friends included Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel and Nancy Mitford. She was featured in Cecil Beaton's 'Book of Beauty' and was regarded as one of the Bright Young Things.