Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (1809-1892) was, and remains, one of the most popular English poets. He held the position of poet laureate for much of Queen Victoria's reign, from 1850 until his death in 1892.

Tennyson began writing In Memoriam soon after the death of his friend, Arthur Hallam (1811-33), but it was not published until 1850. Many readers have found consolation in the poem, including Queen Victoria, who told Tennyson when they met in 1862 that since Prince Albert's death in 1861 she had found much comfort in reading it. In her Journal for 5 January 1862 she wrote: 'Much soothed & pleased with Tennyson's "In Memoriam." Only those who have suffered, as I do, can understand these beautiful poems'. Victoria also wrote a transcript of the poem (RCIN 1005991.a) that, implied by a note on the brass box in which it was kept (see RCIN 55344), was always by her side whenever she was at her desk.

This copy is bound in green goatskin with gold tooling, with gilt and goffered page edges.