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Miscellaneous letters and papers
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John Tripp: Crewe Blues

A revised typescript draft, 1977-1978, of a poem entitled 'Crewe Blues' by John Tripp.
The draft has numerous manuscript revisions and annotations and has the typescript title 'British Rail Blues (The Junction of Despair)' crossed through and replaced with 'Crewe Blues' in ink. A heavily revised version of the poem (see NLW MS 24013D, f. 136) was published as 'Northern Railway Blues' in John Tripp, The Meaning of Apricot Sponge, ed. by Tony Curtis (Cardigan, 2010), pp. 162-163. The poem was apparently written after a Christmas visit by Tripp to his friend the philosopher Allen Phillips Griffiths in Coventry.

Tripp, John, 1927-1986

Dylan Thomas letter to Keidrych Rhys

A letter, 5 August [1939], from Dylan Thomas, at 'The Literary Village' [i.e. Laugharne], to Keidrych Rhys, editor of the literary periodical Wales. The writer is critical of the latest issue (Wales, 1.8/9 (August 1939)), and in particular of a story by S. G. Leonard, 'A labour of love' (pp. 235-238).
There are also references to Nigel Heseltine, Lynette Roberts and Glyn Jones. The letter is apparently unpublished.

Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953

Dannie Abse: Down the M4

Autograph draft, [1972], of Dannie Abse's poem 'Down the M4', containing autograph revisions, deletions and variant readings (f. 74).
Also included is a typescript fair copy of his poem 'Talking to Blake', with a manuscript note to Roy [Davids], dated 28 May 1993 (f. 75). 'Down the M4' was collected (as the first in a sequence of four poems entitled 'Car journeys') in Dannie Abse, Funland and Other Poems (London, 1973), p. 27; 'Talking to Blake' was first collected in Dannie Abse, On the Evening Road (London, 1994), p. 3.

Abse, Dannie

Vernon Watkins letters,

Three typescript letters, March-August 1962, from the poet Vernon Watkins, Pennard Cliffs, to a Mr Rogers, giving advice about the latter's poems and explaining his own approach to writing poetry.

Watkins, Vernon Phillips, 1906-1967

Henry M. Stanley letter,

An autograph letter, 22 August 1872, from journalist and explorer Henry M[orton] Stanley, London, to Charles Ollivant, Sale, Cheshire, refuting the (correct) claim made in the Rhyl Journal that Stanley was not an American but rather a Welshman named John Rowlands (f. 19).
Also included is a newspaper cutting, from the Manchester Examiner and Times, 27 August 1872, printing the contents both of Stanley's letter and a covering letter by Ollivant, dated 24 August 1872 (f. 20). Copies of the letter were sent by Ollivant to several newspapers, including the Examiner and Times and the Manchester Guardian, and it was printed in these and several others over the following days.

Stanley, Henry M. (Henry Morton), 1841-1904

Llythyr Kate Roberts,

Llythyr, 30 Mawrth 1928, oddi wrth Kate Roberts, Aberdâr, at [?David George] Williams, [Ystalyfera], yn cyfeirio at ffotograff ohoni yn y Western Mail ac yn cwyno nad ydi hi byth yn clywed oddi wrth bron i gyd o'i chyfeillion eraill yn Ystalyfera. = A letter, 30 March 1928, from Kate Roberts, Aberdare, to [?David George] Williams, [Ystalyfera], referring to a photograph of her in the Western Mail and complaining that she no longer hears from most of her other friends in Ystalyfera.

Roberts, Kate, 1891-1985

Llythyr Kate Roberts,

Llythyr, 4 Gorffennaf 1960, oddi wrth Kate Roberts, Dinbych, at [y Parch. W. Llewelyn Jones], yn trafod bywyd cynnar R. Williams Parry. = A letter, 4 July 1960, from Kate Roberts, Denbigh, to [the Rev. W. Llewelyn Jones], discussing the early life of R. Williams Parry.

Roberts, Kate, 1891-1985

William Owen Pughe letter,

A brief letter, 3 April 1827, from W[illia]m Owen Pughe, London, to his fellow antiquary the Rev. W[illiam] J[enkins] Rees, Cascob, Radnorshire, regretting that he will not see Rees on his visit to London.
Pughe also mentions his son Aneurin Owen. The address (f. 55 verso) is written in a different hand.

Pughe, W. Owen (William Owen), 1759-1835

Thomas Pennant letter,

A letter, 17 July 1757, from T[homas] Pennant, Downing, to an unidentified fellow naturalist, ordering two copies of his new book ('the 1st volume of your History') and telling him of recent additions to his own collection.
The letter contains references to the naturalists 'B. Pontoppidan' [?Erik Pontoppidan, Bishop of Bergen], and [William] Morris of Holyhead.

Pennant, Thomas, 1726-1798

Letters relating to Edward Thomas,

Three letters to [Thomas] Seccombe from Eleanor Farjeon, 18 April 1917 (ff. 62-65), John Freeman, 19 April 1917 (f. 66), and Edward Garnett, 19 April 1917 (ff. 67-68), concerning the death of Edward Thomas at Arras on 9 April 1917 and Seccombe's letter of tribute published in the Times Literary Supplement, 19 April 1917, p. 189.
Also included is a letter, 1 April 1970, from Myfanwy Thomas, daughter of Edward and Helen Thomas, to a Mr Reynold, discussing collecting her father's books and the Edward and Helen Thomas Window Fund (f. 69); and a typescript copy, [20 cent, third ¼], of a letter, dated 3 August 1908, from Edward Thomas to his literary agent C. F. Cazenove (the original letter was lot 402 in the Dominic Winter auction, 13 December 2012) (f. 70).

Seccombe, Thomas, 1866-1923

Edward Thomas letter

Autograph letter, [15] May 1914, from Edward Thomas, Steep, [Hampshire], to Thomas Seccombe, Camberley, [Surrey], arranging a meeting.
The letter is written on a pre-printed letter card.

Thomas, Edward, 1878-1917

Edward Thomas letter

Autograph letter, 12 May 1914, from Edward Thomas, Steep, Petersfield, [Hampshire], to [Thomas] Seccombe, mainly concerning Thomas's new bicycle.

Thomas, Edward, 1878-1917

Edward Thomas: Cock-Crow

Autograph revised manuscript, [23 July 1915], of Edward Thomas's poem 'Cock-Crow'.
The poem is preceded by an autograph note: 'The image used to appear to me every morning in the spring when the cocks crowed, just like a coat of arms'. The draft includes two autograph revisions in ink that are reproduced in the published text: 'They [?cleave]' is changed to 'Cleaving' (l. 4) and 'Of equal glory' is changed to 'Heralds of splendour' (l. 6). Other textual differences remain: 'that grow by night' rather than 'that grows by night' (l. 1); no comma after 'stand' (l. 5); and 'one on either hand' rather than 'one at either hand' (l. 6). 'Cock-Crow' was first published in Six Poems by Edward Eastaway (Flansham, Sussex, 1916), p. [19], and collected in Edward Thomas ("Edward Eastaway"), Poems (London, 1917), p. 61. It is No. 88 in The Collected Poems of Edward Thomas, ed. by R. George Thomas (Oxford, 1978) (see pp. 244-5), the editor however does not record the present manuscript.

Thomas, Edward, 1878-1917

Acknowledgement letter from Dylan Thomas,

A letter, 30 December 1952, from Dylan Thomas, Laugharne, to A[lfred] Morgan of Barry, Glamorgan, acknowledging his letter of condolence on the death of Thomas's father [on 16 December 1952]. The poet's statement that his father 'died very peacefully', contrasts with the sentiments expressed in his villanelle 'Do not go gentle into that good night'. The letter is apparently unpublished.

Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953

Dylan Thomas: Into her lying down head

A carbon copy typescript, [?1940], of the third verse of Dylan Thomas's poem 'Into her lying down head', with the final ten lines crossed through and completely re-written (as nine lines) in Thomas's hand, [1943x1946] (f. 17).
The typescript appears to match the text as originally published in Life and Letters To-day, 27 (November 1940), 124-126, and collected in Dylan Thomas, New Poems (Norfolk, Conn., 1943), pp. 2-4; the manuscript changes, with one exception, conform to those made before its publication in Dylan Thomas, Deaths and Entrances (London, 1946), pp. 20-22. A typescript summary of the poem's history, [late 20 cent], reproducing the original version of the third verse, is also included (f. 18).

Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953

Dylan Thomas letter,

An autograph letter, 29 August 1949, from Dylan Thomas, The Boat House, Laugharne, to Colin Robinson of Isleworth, Middlesex, answering a series of questions mostly concerning the publication of his work (ff. 12-13).
The letter is apparently unpublished. The poet is replying to Robinson's typescript letter, dated 22 August 1949, a carbon copy of which is enclosed (f. 14).

Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953

Dylan Thomas letter,

An autograph letter, 27 May 1951, from Dylan Thomas, the Boat House, Laugharne, to Ronald [Bottrall], poet and British Council representative in Rome, indicating his willingness to record a piece for the Italian radio station R.A.I. The letter is apparently unpublished.

Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953

Dylan Thomas letter.

Autograph letter, 19 February 1945, from Dylan Thomas, New Quay, Cardiganshire, to N[ancy] R. Pearn of Pearn, Pollinger and Higham, his literary agents, agreeing to the broadcast of his poem 'In Memory of Ann Jones' [also known as 'After the Funeral'] on 26 February [1945].
The letter is apparently unpublished. The accompanying envelope has the phrase 'Miss Elizabeth Cree / Remember wee / Three' typed on the front (f. 10a).

Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953

Dylan Thomas letter to Graham Greene

An autograph letter, [early January 1947], from Dylan Thomas, at Holywell Ford, Oxford, to Graham [Greene], concerning the potential publication of Thomas's film script 'The Doctor and the Devils'.
The letter was published in Dylan Thomas, The Collected Letters New Edition, ed. by Paul Ferris (London, 2000), p. 681.

Thomas, Dylan, 1914-1953

Miscellaneous letters and papers

  • NLW MS 23981E.
  • File
  • 1757-1993 (mostly 1872-1993)

A collection of miscellaneous letters and papers, 1757-1993, purchased or received by donation from various sources by the National Library of Wales during the period June 2008-May 2013 and boxed as one volume.

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