8vo. xiv, [2], 308pp. Original publisher's navy cloth, lettered in gilt to spine. Rubbed, chipping to head and foot of spine, corners bumped. Later inked ownership inscription to FEP, recto of half-tile, and head of title page, very occasional short tears to margins.

The first edition of a collection of seven essays, together with 'Prefaces to Poems' (initially published in 1853 and 1854 respectively), by poet and writer Matthew Arnold (1822-1888). Three of the essays concern the politics of Ireland, the remaining four are more literary in nature.