Historical information

This book of poetry was a Prize Awarded for Botany and Physiology an unidentifiable recipient who was Dux of Form V, it was presented by James Scott B.A., Warrnambool College.

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson FRS (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was a British poet. He was the Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets. In 1829, Tennyson was awarded the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for one of his first pieces, "Timbuktu". He published his first solo collection of poems, Poems Chiefly Lyrical in 1830. "Claribel" and "Mariana", which remain some of Tennyson's most celebrated poems, were included in this volume. Although decried by some critics as overly sentimental, his verse soon proved popular and brought Tennyson to the attention of well-known writers of the day, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Tennyson's early poetry, with its medievalism and powerful visual imagery, was a major influence on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Significance

This book was awarded to a student of Warrnambool College as an end of year prize is an example of how it was the custom to award prizes as scholastic encouragement to students for exemplary work during the school year in the late 19th to early 20th centuries.

Physical description

Book “The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson” poet laureate. Spine of book says “Tennyson’s Works”. Published 1892 in London and New York, by Macmillan and Co. Cover is read with gold border.

Inscriptions & markings

Prize label book presented by James Scott BA "Form V/Dux/Botany Physiology to Master … / James Scott B.A. / Dec 18th 1893"