Jerusalem Delivered by Tasso HC Colonial Press 1901 translated by Edward Fairfax For Sale

The product is a hardcover book titled \"Jerusalem Delivered\" by Torquato Tasso, translated by Edward Fairfax. Edited by Henry Morley LLD.Published by The Colonial Press in 1901, this illustrated edition features literary works in English, making it a valuable addition to any literature and fiction collection.The epic poem tells a mythologized, heroic version of the First Crusade. It focuses on the final months of the siege of Jerusalem in 1099, where the Christian knight Godfrey of Bouillon fights to capture the Holy City from Islamic forces.Rather than a strict historical record, the plot is driven by supernatural elements, romance, and moral conflict:The Divine War: God sends archangels to aid the Crusaders, while Lucifer rallies demons, magicians, and monsters to defend Jerusalem.The Star-Crossed Lovers: The narrative thrives on tragic, forofferden romances between Christian knights and Muslim warriors. The most famous is Tancred, a Crusader who falls deeply in love with Clorinda, a fierce pagan shield-maiden. In a tragic case of mistaken identity during a night battle, Tancred mortally wounds her, only recognizing his love after he removes her helmet, baptizing her just before she dies.The Enchantress Armida: A powerful sorceress sent by the forces of darkness to seduce and distract the Christian champions. She ensnares the Crusaders\' greatest warrior, Rinaldo, trapping him in a magical garden of pleasures on the Canary Islands until his comrades rescue him to fulfill his holy destiny.Significance of This Specific Edition:The Translation: This version features the legendary English translation by Edward Fairfax (first published in 1600). Fairfax translated the poem into ottava rima (eight-line stanzas), capturing the fluid, musical quality of Tasso\'s original Italian verse. It is widely considered one of the finest translations of the English Renaissance.The Publisher: This \"Revised Edition\" was printed around 1901 by The Colonial Press (New York/London) as part of their popular World\'s Great Classics series, curated to bring foundational masterpieces of world literature into elegant, accessible home libraries.The book is 125 years old and in excellent condition.