The Deserted Village

Pp. 26, (2), 5 text woodcuts by Thomas Bewick. Original gray printed card covers lg 4to (9 x 12 inches). This publication showcased the use of linotype typesetting – it was published in 18 point type in new Italian typeface called Bodini. The Deserted Village is a poem by Oliver Goldsmith originally published in 1770. It is a work of social commentary, and condemns rural depopulation and the pursuit of excessive wealth. The location of the poem's deserted village is unknown, but the description may have been influenced by Goldsmith's memory of his childhood in rural Ireland, and his travels around England. The poem is written in heroic couplets, and describes the decline of a village and the emigration of many of its residents to America (from Wiki). From the library of William A. Kittredge with his bookplate on the inside front wrapper.