[Hardy-l] Hardy and bookbinders

[Charles.Anesi at wellsfargo.com]

"Newman Fowler told me that C.K. Shorter went down to see Hardy and
asked to see his manuscripts, which were stacked in boxes in an attic.
Having inspected them C.K.S. said 'I'll have the lot bound for you'.
Hardy agreed.  The manuscripts were bound but very cheaply and badly
indeed.  Before sending them back C.K.S. wrote 'I think you said you'd
give me two manuscripts'.  Hardy kicked at this but agreed to give him
one -- The Return of the Native."  (Arnold Bennett, Journals of Arnold
Bennett. Excerpt in Martin Ray's Thomas Hardy Remembered, pp 194-195)

Edmund Blunden recounted the same story and said that "And afterwards
the MSS had to be rebound!" but does not say by whom they were rebound.
Not stated either how many manuscripts were involved in either case.

The collector recommended by Rosemary and the diaries mentioned by Betty
would no doubt provide better information.  Just thought this was an
amusing story.


Chuck Anesi
charles.anesi at wellsfargo.com
office 480-575-3478
cell 612-940-3345
fax 480-575-3519
 
** These opinions are strictly my own and not necessarily those of Wells
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