[ John Edmund Reade, poet and author. ] Autograph Letter Signed to an unnamed party, describing how his 'audience hitherto have been fit tho few'.

Author: 
John Edmund Reade (1800-1870), Victorian poet and author who met 'the contempt of the literary world'
Publication details: 
40 Upper Baker Street [ London ]. No date.
£220.00
SKU: 19989

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, tipped in onto leaf removed from album. After apologising for the late reply to the recipient's note he acknowledges 'the Compliment you make me'. He continues in his customary vainglorious style, appropriating Milton's words to himself: 'I am so deeply occupied in writing works I have been writing the last 20 years, that I have scarce a moment: my audience hitherto have been fit tho few'. See Reade's entry in the Oxford DNB, which describes the negative response to his work, concluding: 'Despite the contempt of the literary world, Reade's works did have an audience, chiefly among the religious.'