The Faerie Queene. Facsimile of the second edition, 1596

Spenser, Edmund, 1552?-1599.
The Faerie Queene: 1596.
London: The Scolar Press, 1976. 2 Volumes.
Call Number: PR 2358 .A3 H6 1976
Stacks, Golda Meir Library

This edition is a facsimile of the second edition of 1596, published just three years before Spenser's death. It is the final authoritative edition published. As a result, this text has become the standard upon which a majority of subsequent editions are based.

Spenser intended this work to consist of twelve books in heroical verse style. Each book extolled one of twelve moral virtues. However, at the time of his death, he had completed only six books, published in this edition of 1596. The first edition, published in 1590 contained only the first three books, while the third edition of 1609 added fragments from a seventh book authenticated by Spenser's publisher.

These editions of The Faerie Queene represented a work in progress and did not include illustrations of the text.