#william plomer

[only-alec-just]

Forster's letters to Plomer

I was allowed to take photos of these letters, so I thought I'd share some of my favourites and my favourite lines from a few of them too. Some of his words were hard to decipher but I did my best.

24-9-31 "Nothing, really, is sadder or more final than a 'reconciliation'" "When happiness is lost because it is feared" "Sorry to have written the title of your book wrong, I started with it wrong in my head..."

2. 18-11-32 "Thank you for your affectionate letter - it is not the first time you have acted as a consolation indeed during some difficulties a few days ago I nearly asked for your help, but the difficulties improved and now I am glad every way." "before I go to a cocktale party (Sick!) with Somerset Maugham."

3. 19-1-33 (no photo) "What a world - though I will say for it that it doesn't seem constricted on any one plan" "to be humble and self-seeking" "bought a small pink rug from Cardinal and Harfordis (?) and find it ---- and cheerful" "Do you think you could take an interest in my small pink rug?"

4. 4-12-32 (?) "I am very excited about Maurice and am thinking over the book again. Most people have thought it poignant (?) and persuasive but haven't thought much of it after Alec ----- or have thought it should have ended tragically. I shouldn't have felt it worth writing tragically"

5. 6-7-29 "... gave the whole story from the inside which is the only form worth writing" "we shall be shown everything and see nothing."

6. 11-7-32 "It gives me the feeling of revolution without either the bitterness or uplift - the only revolution I want." "It has altered my way of looking at life - I hasten to put a little reality into this remark by adding that it has only altered it a fraction and probably won't for long. But since I read it... there's been a tiny shifting of its angles - a rare result for a book to have." "If he thinks further of the police perhaps you'd care to meet Bob [Buckingham] who likes it on the whole, especially for its athletic opportunities."

7. 23-1-33 "I must stop and cut down a tree"

The rest of the ones I photographed:

From the William Plomer Manuscripts at Durham University Library (27-11-2024)

[majestativa]

My yesterday hangs under my heart.

— Ingrid Jonker, Selected Poems, transl by Jack Cope and William Plomer, (1988)

[maybeasunflower]

The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast

The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast - Various Artists (Full Album)

This is not the rock opera soundtrack, but a musical setting of the book by Alan Aldridge and William Plomer on which it is based. The book is a set of poems, with the most gorgeous illustrations for each one.

We had the book and 1975 recording (on LP!) when I was a child. I loved to listen while reading/looking at the book. However, an LP meant using the good record player, so generally I had to make do with just the book. (This was the 1990s - we had a CD player, but my parents' music collection had been accumulated in the age of vinyl).

The pair of "Homeward" tracks are a personal favourite.

[thewalrusandmeman]

[outpostink]

William Plomer, Visiting the Caves

[yourdailyqueer]

William Plomer (deceased)

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Gay

DOB: 10 December 1903  

RIP: 20 September 1973

Ethnicity: White - English

Occupation: Writer, poet, literary editor

[books0977]

The Case Is Altered. William Plomer. London: The Hogarth Press, 1932. First edition. Original dust jacket.

It's a story about a murder, and was closely based on a real life crime. What is unique about it is that the crime in question occurred, in 1929, in the house in Bayswater where Plomer was living. James Achew murdered his partner, Sybil da Costa, in front of their small child. Achew was insanely jealous (and was ultimately reprieved from execution).

[miodesblog]

This time last year I started to seek out and purchase out-of-print children’s books that we had in our house when I was growing up. Like a lot of things “for kids” in the 1970’s, there was a slightly macabre element to the imagery and, in the case of its narrative poetry, not written with much consideration of what children understand or engage with! ( I expect it would not find a publisher these days. It’s not market- orientated enough!))However, this book is unique - and I found the art work beautiful and fascinating. There’s even a frog tripping on a bed of magic mushrooms (though he manages to perform at the ball not too worse for wear! This book has got the artist’s flamboyant signature inside, dated 1973.