Book Report: Old School Day Romances by James Whitcomb Riley (1909)

Book coverI picked this book up in Davenport, Iowa, earlier this month, and when I sought a book of poetry to leaven my evening reading, I grabbed it. As I mentioned, this is a lavishly illustrated 1909 book that makes me want to buy some Mylar to wrap it. It’s in fine condition and was only $10. I guess Riley fans are few and far between these centuries.

As it stands, this is not a collection of poems, but a single poem lavishly illustrated. Pages with text have a series of borders with color illustrations of schoolday activities rotating at the top, and the book also features 10 slick full page illustrations woven throughout. The poem itself is a nostalgic look back at school days and a bit of the first romances you have at school, which leads to a bit of a question as for whom the book was made. Children still in school? They would like the pictures, I guess. Older people reminiscing? Perhaps it’s designed for parents and grandparents to read to children.

The poem itself is not something I’ll memorize, but the book is beautiful, and I’m glad to own it.

I’m also still a James Whitcomb Riley fan, although apparently Little Orphant Annie and Other Poems remains the only other book I’ve read. Maybe I’ll get that 10-volume set from ABC Books yet.

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