Talk:Gift book

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A fact from Gift book appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 21 April 2008, and was viewed approximately 683 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that many gift books, decorative anthologies published annually just before the holidays to be given as gifts, featured popular authors of the day such as Dickens, Wordsworth and Poe?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2008/April.

Wikipedia

Sources

Here are some sources I came across in my reading about Mary Shelley that might help you out:

Renier, Anne. Friendship's Offering. London: Private Libraries Association, 1964.
Jamieson, Eleanore. English Embossed Bindings 1825-1850. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1972.
Manning, Peter. "Wordsworth in the Keepsake, 1829". Literature in the Marketplace. Eds. John O. Jordan and Robert L. Patten. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995.
Hoagwood, Terence and Ledbetter, Kathryn. "L.E.L.'s Verses and the Keepsake for 1829". Romantic Circles
Sussman, Charlotte. "Stories for the Keepsake". The Cambridge Companion to Mary Shelley. Ed. Esther Schor. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

I hope these are helpful. Awadewit (talk) 18:11, 3 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Check also more recent articles by Katherine D. Harris, Margaret Linley, Kitty Ledbetter, Paula Feldman, Terence Hoagwood.
See also the wiki entry for literary annual. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.65.108.218 (talk) 03:32, 11 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Organization

The introduction of this article gives examples and history of the gift book but does not define what a gift book is. I read the first few sentences of this article and still didn't know what a gift book was. Conversely, a gift book is defined in the Editors section even though the definition has nothing to do with editors. I am going to move a statement or two to make this flow more logically. Somebody let me know if they approve upon reading my updates. Thanks.MorbidAnatomy (talk) 00:32, 17 October 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Not all gift books are literary annuals. This article doesn't touch upon the massive amount of research done recently. I'll add information on the definition of a literary annual in its own entry. (Thanks -- Katherine D. Harris) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.65.108.218 (talk) 03:34, 11 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I wouldn't jump on starting a new article just yet. Maybe it would help if you weren't so vague - what is this article missing, for example? Keep in mind the article is very young and didn't exist about a year ago so there's plenty of room for growth. I'm sure you're also aware of all our Wikipolicies, including conflict of interest? --Midnightdreary (talk) 03:57, 11 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Parody-s

As with any fad, parody's follow...Here are two of the four parody's published in the "Illustrated London News". 1842, vol. 1, page 521. In regards to "The Book of Beauty" parody, the origional poem (from the Heath's Book of Beauty or the American Book of Beauty, I only have PART of the origional..).

Parody:

Parady: The book of beauty.
My pretty blue belle - I am going to tell
of the beautiful book which you edit so well,
with your own sweet face on the frontispiece dear,
and you pen in your mouth, love, instead of your ear!
who would not be a goose now-to have such a quill
for your red lips to hold so remarkable still;
with ink like your spirit - uncommonly blue,
and a feather to fly with - though not, love from you!
your eyes shed such light on your beautiful phiz,
that at last your wise owl has a twinkle in his ;
your're a Queen-fair advised by the sagest of sages,
with a book in whose prison you shut up your pages.
most sublime in your looks-lady editor-when
you are having resort like a sheep-to your pen
and your book may be grand-but in you I behold
the true Book of Beauty that I long to fold.

The book of beauty (partial poem, rest is missing)
My own blue-belle!
My pretty blue-belle!
Don't fear that your secrets I'm going to tell;
My wings you view,
of your own bright hue,
And oh! never doubt that my heart's "true-blue"

Parody 2: FRIENDSHIP'S OFFERING. (Origional poem unknown, from 1841 or 1842 issue.)
I give you all- I can no more
Though poor the "Offering be"
Yet 'tis worth millions, if you judge
by what it has cost me!

My wife - ah yes - I part with her
As friendship's sweet reward,
I've got her in a line to go
Upon her own ac-cord!-
and that half-crown you're pulling out
Still leaves me, Bill, no pull-
I'm letting a whole tigress go
For only half-a-bull!
Farewell, and of your bargin, boy,
Long live you to be proud,
You've only given half-a-bull
to have your spirit cowed!

NormBograham (talk) 15:32, 24 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

— Preceding unsigned comment added by NormBograham (talk • contribs) 20:03, 23 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]