DE LA MARE (Walter John, 1873-1956, Poet and Novelist)

Collection of Four Typed Letters Signed with some manuscript amendments, to Jon WYNNE-TYSON (1924-2020, Author,Publisher, Quaker, Activist and Pacifist, Founder of the Centaur Press) the first saying "how well I recollect a little difficulty that occurred over a brief but obscure rhyme which was contributed to Enquiry. I had no notion of course that John Galsworthy had transluminated what was 'a bit obscure'. Do let us meet some day ... meanwhile if you'd care to send the two books you mention by post they shall be safely returned and without delay These next few weeks are made difficult by a good many engagements and my having lately been less well again ...", suggesting that they meet in about three weeks, "things ought to be clearer then, and some of the imperative things to do, heaven helping, done! ...", 2 sides oblong 8vo., the next confirms the meeting and asks "if this address will be easy to find .. Apart from a car, I think the best route is to Richmond Station ... The stopping place is Crown Road. Montpelier Row is immediately on your left ... Do tell me then if Gawsworth's remark to Cox was viva voce! ...", 1 side oblong 8vo., the next thanks him "for sending me without a day's delay, your copy of The Enchanted April. One only has to dip for a moment or two to realise what one will find in the well. Its author was a great friend of Katherine Mansfield, wasn't she? And the other day an Australian friend came to tea with me who knew the whole family. It won't, I gather, be any sort of a bother if I keep the book for some little time. I did so much enjoy that little tea party, but regret ... that so much of it was in the form of a monologue and in a voice I know only too well. Years ago a friend gave me a book containing beautiful reproductions of details in nearly all the well known pictures of Breughel, with a preface written by the Custodian of the Breughel Gallery ... fascinating and it is astonishing that so many minute fractions of his big pictures should be pictures in themselves. Bosch I don't know well - not thoroughly ... though reference is made to him by the Midget, Miss M. in an old novel of mine that appeared in the early twenties ..." and returning some books, 2 sides oblong 8vo., and finally he says that "Mrs Little will certainly bless your name (though with my usual promptitude I nearly sent it off to another visitor - the glove I mean) ... Do at any time send me any book if you would like me to put my name in it ...", 1 side oblong 8vo., with one original envelope, all from 4 Southend Road, Montpelier Row, Twickenham9th September to 12th October 1953, together with carbon copies of the replies from Wynne-Tyson to De La Mare, which extensively fill in the background to the letters, in the reply to number 3 he writes "Unmistakably voce and very viva ...", 8 sides A4, 9 St Anne's Close, Highgate, September to October

Wynne-Tyson ran Centaur Press from his home in Sussex and was a distinguished independent publisher. He authored books on animal rights and vegetarianism. At one time Wynne-Tyson held the title of "King of Redonda", a literary title referencing a small island.

Item Date:  1953

Stock No:  40717      £775

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