1. Robert Story - The Works

As I write - March 2013 - a surprising number of very rare Robert Story texts are freely available on the web. This was certainly not true 5 years ago.

Some of these texts are available through Google Books, some through university or academic web sites - and some of these academic sites are sometimes, but not always, in partnership with Google Books.

A complication nowadays is that Google and Google Books are making a pig's ear out of straightforward web searches for these freely available texts. Google in its searches prioritises its 'partners' - in this case book 'publishers' who have taken the freely available books and try to persuade you to buy a paper, printed copy of the free book. So, go carefully...

I have tried to link, below, directly to the web sites where the free texts are available - or, in some cases, to web sites where the text is tidily visible, but maybe not available for full download.

Google Books web links were created using Wikipedia citation tool for Google Books.

http://reftag.appspot.com/

1826

Craven Blossoms

The title page of Craven Blossoms is almost the only place I have seen so far where Robert Story's name is spelled 'Storey'.

John James notes this, and adds...

'Like Burns, Story shortened his family name by leaving out the letter e. His 'Craven Blossoms,' published in 1826, had the name 'Robert Storey' on the title page; but in the next work he published 'The Magic Fountain,' dedicated to his mother, 'Mary Story, Wooler', his name is altered to 'Story,' as he afterwards spelled it.'

James, 'Life of Robert Story', p lxxxix.

The University of California's copy, on Internet Archive. Freely available in a variety of formats, including pdf, kindle and epub

http://archive.org/details/cravenblossomsor00stor

The University of California's copy, on Hathi Trust, in pdf

http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t11n82z0b

1829

The Magic Fountain, 1829

I have not been able to find an online version of the actual book. It looks like there might be one somewhere in Ohio - I will negotiate.

I have placed, below, at the bottom of this page, a pdf from Chadwyck Literature Online - which gives some idea of the content.

So, moving right along...

1839

The outlaw; a drama By Robert Story

The University of California's copy, on Hathi Trust, full text available in pdf

http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t6j101q7z

Harvard's copy, on Hathi Trust

http://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044086781085

Note PARTNER LOGIN required. You can read the book, and you can grab individual pages. But, here, you cannot have the full text.

Oxford University's copy on Google Books. You can download as epub or pdf. And free Google Books are quite nicely arranged - click on the cog wheel, top right, or see the sections display.

http://books.google.com/books?id=uRoOAAAAQAAJ

1842

Love and literature

The Bodleian Library's copy, I think - on Google Books

http://books.google.com/books?id=JcUIAAAAQAAJ

Note the Dedication, to the One Thousand patrons...

This is the most idiosyncratic and self indulgent of Robert Story's books - we are all allowed one. Scholars of the 'Labouring Class Writers' will find very helpful Chapter 1, 'Provincial Poets', p 9 onwards.

1849

Songs and poems By Robert Story Third Edition Enlarged

I can't make out whose copy this is - there is a library stamp, but I cannot read it.

http://books.google.com/books?id=PlkEAAAAQAAJ

Note Introduction, where Robert Story's life becomes part of the package...

And note the Opinions of the Press, at the very end of the book.

And now things get even more complicated - this book is also available on Google Play...

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=PlkEAAAAQAAJ&rdid=book-PlkEAAAAQAAJ&rdot=1

But Google Play is not able to distinguish between the different Robert Storys...

1852

Guthrum the Dane

University of California's copy on Hathi Trust. Full text pdf download available.

http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t3ws8nz1j

1853

Guthrum the Dane By Robert Story Second Edition

Bodleian Library's copy on Google Books. Full text, in pdf or epub.

http://books.google.com/books?id=9E8CAAAAQAAJ

Note Preface to the Second Edition

1854

The Third Napoleon

Harvard University's copy, freely available on Google Books...

http://books.google.com/books?id=-I9d45y1BFEC

Harvard's copy on Hathi Trust

http://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044017959636

Here ordinary human beings do NOT have full access, but we can read and can capture individual pages

1857

The poetical works of Robert Story

Oxford University's copy on Google Books...

http://books.google.com/books?id=JWAJAAAAQAAJ

Cornell University's copy on Internet Archive...

http://archive.org/details/cu31924013555291

available there in a variety of formats, including pdf, kindle and epub.

Both these web sites - extraordinarily - give you some idea of the colour design, and the money, that went into the making of this book. The book itself is an extraordinary piece of nineteenth century design...

[Story] desired, above all things, to connect it, by some enduring tie, with his native county. This object, he concluded, would be best effected by dedicating the work to the Duke of Northumberland, the great Chief of the county... He was, however, perplexed as to the best manner of approaching his Grace, when he remembered that Mr. Dickson, of Alnwick, Clerk of the Peace for Northumberland, had, some years previously, expressed great admiration of his Poems, and would probably promote his views. And upon communicating with him, that gentleman courteously offered his services, and brought several of Story's pieces under the Duke's eye, who instantly perceived their merit, and with the generosity characteristic of his nature, not only gave permission for the volume to be dedicated to him, but suggested that it should be adorned at his expense, in a manner befitting its contents...

...the work was printed in colours, by Messrs. Pigg, of Newcastle, and in a style of beauty and magnificence which I do not remember to have seen equalled by the provincial press. The designs for the illuminated letters were made in Newcastle, the paper was manufactured in Northumberland, and the book bound in Newcastle, with leather dressed on the Tyne. All the accessories thus accorded with a book which breathed the poetry of Northumbria. The mere expense of adorning the work cost his Grace five hundred pounds—a splendid monument to the Bard of Beaumont Side! One thousand impressions were struck off, at the price, for large copies, of one guinea, and for small ones of ten shillings and sixpence...

John James, 'Life' p lxvii, p lxix

Thomas Carlyle wrote to Robert Story...

November 1857

TC TO ROBERT STORY

Dear Sir,—I have received your beautiful volume, probably the finest bit of typography that ever came before me; and have looked over it with interest and pleasure—certainly with hearty good-will to the amiable and worthy brother-man who sketches out in that manner his pilgrimage through this confused world, alongside of me. A certain rustic vigour of life, breezy freshness, as of the Cheviot hills; a kindly healthiness of soul breathes every where out of the book. No one that reads it, I should think, but will feel himself the better for its influences. I can honestly wish success to it; and to its author, peace and comfort for the days and years that remain. With many thanks and regards, I remain, yours sincerely, T. CARLYLE.

Source

Carlyle Letters Online

http://carlyleletters.dukejournals.org/

10.

1861

The Lyrical and other minor poems of Robert Story, with a sketch of his life and writings

by John James

Cornell's copy on Internet Archive

http://archive.org/details/cu31924013555309

available in a variety of formats, including pdf, kindle and epub

Note that the portrait of Robert Story is visible and available on that web site

http://archive.org/stream/cu31924013555309#page/n5/mode/2up