‘A TRUE MASTERPIECE’ (WIELAND)
WIELAND, Christoph Martin; William SOTHEBY, translator.
Oberon, a Poem …
London, Cadell and Davies, Edwards, Faulder, and Hatchard, 1798.
Two vols, 8vo, pp. [iv], 206; [ii], 234, [2 (errata)]; a fine copy, in contemporary half calf and marbled boards, red morocco spine labels, monogram to spine of Mary Hill, Marchioness of Downshire.
First octavo edition of Sotheby’s celebrated translation of Wieland’s epic, Oberon, in part based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream; there was also a large paper quarto edition for presentation.
Wieland’s outstanding popularity in England (rivalled only by Gessner) in the latter half of the eighteenth century was largely due to his light and easy style, perceived as typically un-German. Indeed, he modelled his work rather on such English writers as Sterne, and was much influenced by French philosophy.
Sotheby’s translation made Wieland’s reputation in England more than any other work. Crabb Robinson described Oberon as ‘the most valuable present to our national literature from the German’. With this too Sotheby’s own literary reputation was established, where his original verse and historical tragedies had met with little success. Wieland had previously banned any translation of his work, but Sotheby was unaware of the author’s disapproval and sent him a copy. In the event, Wieland appeared to have forgotten his ban, and expressed great satisfaction at the result, ‘ein aechtes Meisterstück.’
ESTC T99051.
