Tennyson 4 Volume Set

to] her Highness Princess Louise Augusta of Schleswig-Holstein by Matrons, Sister and Nurses of Great Britain and Ireland on the occasion of her marriage”. Following a note of appreciation is a four line verse by Tennyson addressed to the bride: Take, Lady, what your Royal nurses give, This full God-Bless-you with this book of song, And may the life which heart-in-heart, you live With him you love be cloudless and long! July - 1891 The marriage he spoke of was to Prince Albert of Anhalt. Unfortunately, it was neither cloudless nor long. It ended in 1900 amid rumors of the Princes relationship with a male servant of his. It transpired that the marriage was never consummated and the Princess devoted herself instead to Royal and charitable duties.  The poem dedicated to the Princess is printed in Hallam Tennyson’s memoir of his father which also records the gift of this collection of his works to her. Hallam also notes that his father would go on walks with Princess Louisa where they wold talk of all manner of things including the writing of poetry about which Hallam mentions his father would say, “A crooked share, Madam, may make a straight furrow”. Such detail on their relationship and this particular set of books in his memoir is noteworthy of the objects Royal provenance and the Poet Laureates close friendship to one of his Royal Patrons.