AUTHOR’S ANNOTATED COPY - The Pocket Poets

Laurie Lee’s own copy with his verbal annotations in blue ink to the contents page denoting the copyright holders of the poems included in the present selection (“Hogarth Press”, “Deutsch”, “Self”), and with “Copyright Reference” in manuscript to the front cover in the author’s hand. In addition, there are two single word ink annotations in the author’s hand to two text pages (one changing a word in opening line of the poem ‘Milkmaid’), and two numerical notations in pencil. Also loosely laid in are four leaves of Lee’s ink manuscript notes written in preparation for a reading. The first two form his introductory preamble, beginning “I sometimes think this sort of thing is a bit of a mistake. Few writers should actually be seen in public”. The second two then provide a list of twelve poems from the present work, with page numbers, to be read out, followed by six poems from another work. An evocative copy, used by the poet and novelist himself both for reference and for public readings.

DESCRIPTION: A good working copy with typical signs of use in the publisher’s original card wrappers. The covers with water marking and chipping and loss to the spine ends, the contents with some creasing to the rear endpaper and the odd minor mark.

PROVENANCE: Acquired from the Quaritch catalogue dispersal of Lee’s library.