Lot 8
  • 8

Auden, W.H.

Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
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Description

  • Auden, W.H.
  • Poems. London: Faber & Faber, 1930
  • Paper
8vo (202 x 154mm.), FIRST TRADE EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO EDWARD UPWARD ("To Edward Upward | With best wishes | from | Wystan Auden") on half-title, original blue printed wrappers, collector's folding box, spine professionally restored, spine darkened and chipped

Literature

Bloomfield and Mendelson A2(a); see Carpenter, Humphrey. W.H. Auden: A Biography (1981), p.118

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where 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."

Catalogue Note

INSCRIBED BY AUDEN TO A SIGNFICANT INFLUENCE ON HIS EARLY WORK.

W.H. Auden and Edward Upward (1903-2009) first met in 1927 through their mutual friend Christopher Isherwood, to whom Auden dedicated this work. Auden himself acknowledged the great influence Upward and Isherwood's Mortmere stories had on his writing during the early thirties. Included in this lot is a photocopy of the letter from Auden dated 6 October 1930 which would have accompanied this copy: "I thought you might like a copy of this... I shall never know how much in these poems is filched from you via Christopher."

Stephen Spender's impression of the literary hierarchy was that Spender deferred to Auden, Auden deferred to Isherwood, Isherwood deferred to Upward, and Upward deferred to nobody.

Upward was a key figure in the "Auden generation" and "had an influence far greater than his always small readership suggested. Isherwood described him as "the judge before whom all my work must stand trial" (All the Conspirators), while Auden's early work was "indebted to Upward's imaginative world" (Peter Parker, Oxford DNB).