Lot 117
  • 117

[Hughes, Ted.]

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Archive of letters and manuscripts relating to The Epic Poise, a celebration of Ted Hughes' life and work edited by Nick Gammage, originally planned in 1997 as a festschrift for the poet's 70th birthday but eventually published posthumously by Faber and Faber in December 1999 as a memorial volume celebrating the poet's life and work, together with a small archive relating to Playtround Memories (1996), also edited by Gammage, comprising
the epic poise 
letters, draft and revised typescripts and sometimes corrected proofs from the proposed contributors including Seamus Heaney (8 letters and postcards signed, on several occasions making revisions to his previously enclosed draft text "Littleblood" , and suggesting further potential contributors to the volume for Gammage to approach), Paul Muldoon (2 postcards signed, with his contribution "Herm"),  Andrew Motion (2 letters and one postcard signed, with his contribution "Full Moon and Little Frieda"),  Al Alvarez (4 postcards and one letter signed), Yehuda Amichai (1 autogaph letter, "...Ted's work deserves the book you are planning..."), Leonard Baskin (2 autograph letters signed, "...May I suggest that I submit my strongest work, namely, a series of drawings of Crows & possibly other works..."), Michael Hofmann (2, with typescript of his contribution, on Hughes' poem "Remembering Tehran"), Raymond Briggs (with autograph draft of his contribution, in ink and pencil, revised), Charles Causley (3 postcards and one autograph note signed, together with corrected typescript of his contribution, his poem "In a Junior School"), Wendy Cope (3), Douglas Dunn (2), D.J. Enright (2, with typescript of his contribution "Crow: A Reading), John Fowles (3), John Gielgud (autograph manuscript of his contribution, discussing his leading role in Oedipus under Peter Brook at the National Theatre in 1968), Fay Godwin (3),  William Merwin (4), Adrian Mitchell (2), Blake Morrison (2), Kathleen Raine (2, "...I dislike 'festschrifts' myself and am provisionally agreeing because I know what a bad time feminists have given Ted over the years and think as a woman I would like to do something to rectify this..."), Anthony Thwaite (3), Keith Sagar (a series, about this and other publications), Henri Cartier-Bresson (1, commenting on his technique when taking a photographic portrait), and many others, including Gillian Clarke, Barrie Cooke, Roy Davids, Michael Morpurgo, Ruth Fainlight, Alan Garner, Glyn Hughes, Roger McGough, Karl Miller, Brian Patten, Alan Sillitoe, Jon Stallworthy, Charles Tomlinson, Claire Tomalin, Marina Warner, Irene Worth and Penelope Shuttle; with letters by other invited contributors or their assistants who, for various reasons, decline, including H.R.H The Prince of Wales, Thom Gunn, Tom Stoppard,  R.S. Thomas ("...I admire Mr. Hughes. It is just that I have nothing to say...") and others; together with correspondence with Christopher Reid and Charles Boyle at Faber, and Olwyn Hughes, the poet's sister, discussing the contributions, preserved in five lever arch files, various sizes, 1998—1999
playground memories
correspondence with authors including John le Carré, Thom Gunn, Colin Dexter, Terry Pratchett, George Mackay Brown, John Fowles, H.R.F. Keating, P.D. James, Clare Francis, Allan Ahlberg, John Major, Tony Blair , Sir David Attenborough, Alan Ayckbourn, Kenneth Baker, Julian Barnes and many others, preserved in lever arch file, various sizes, 1996

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."