Beschreibung:

THOMAS, DYLAN. Seven autograph letters signed and one typed letter signed (all "Dylan Thomas") to Richard Church, his editor at the publishers J.M. Dent and Sons, and to others (mostly) at the firm; Blashford, Ringwood, Hants., and Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Wales, 4 May - 22 August 1939. Together 9 pages, 8vo-4to, the typed letter single-spaced, a few with a marginal punch hole (one affecting two letters), one or two with received date stamped on verso or blank page, four with marginal notes by Church and others at Dent; in black binder. With carbon copies of nine letters from Church and others at Dent to Thomas, carbon copies of four publishing firm memos, an autograph memo by Church, and a typed memo attached by pin to the last Thomas letter. AUTHOR TO PUBLISHER: The Map of Love Thomas discusses the publication of The Map of Love , his book of poetry and prose, issued by Dent on 24 August 1939; he pleads for an advance, tells of his choice of stories (for this, his third book) he rejects the review blurb and suggests others, and lists periodicals for the review list, etc. 22 February 1939: "...I wish to cut out the incomplete prose-piece called 'In The Direction Of The Beginning.' I know this will alter the plan of the book, but, I think, alter it for the best. That prose-piece would, I believe, when complete, overbalance the poems and the rest of the stories -- by hysterical weight, not by value. I intend now making it quite a long thing, say about the length of Petron, and then I'm sure it would be better to publish it by itself [it eventually appeared in the posthumous A Prospect of the Sea , 1955]. If you look over the stories I've suggested, you'll see I had some trouble over the names of the characters. It's fairly unimportant, I suppose, but it should be settled. The name originally used in 'The Orchards' story was Peter, the same as in 'The Visitor,' but, on rereading, I took a dislike to the name. It applied more to a character in a slick, fashionable story, and seemed out of place in short imaginative stories or fables...I hope very much, that's putting it weakly, that Dent's may be persuaded to give me my advance for this book now. It is complete, and only needs arrangement. I've a family to support, and nothing to support it with -- just nothing. I do need that advance at once, if I am to keep my wife and son well if only for a short time..." 4 March 1939: "...I shan't finish that [long prose] fragment ['In the Direction of the Beginning'] for quite a long time; I've decided to make it far fuller & to put in much more detail etc. Is there any point in publishing, in this book, the fragment as it is now? Anyway, I still think, don't you, that its title should be kept as the title of the whole book, whether the fragment is omitted or not. It does apply to most of the poems & stories in the book..." (At Church's suggestion the book was entitled The Map of Love , after a story in the volume.) 8 March 1939: "...I enclose three more poems. The sonnet I am not sure about, it seems mechanical...I'm extremely sorry you do not want to include the story, 'A Prospect Of The Sea,' which is one of my own favourites [Church thought it too sensual]. If I removed, or toned down to complete harmlessness, its 'moments of sensuality,' would you then consider again its inclusion?...I agree with your suggestion of The Map of Love: Verse & Prose as the title...I don't really think that I agree with 'The Dress' coming at the very end of the prose? (I suppose the verse will come first in the book? That certainly seems the best.) I think 'The Dress' is too pathetic a note to end the book with. I suggest 'The Orchards' -- but again, it is not a very important point, and I leave it to you [Thomas's choice did end the book]..." 29 June 1939: "...I suggest that you cut out the statement from the Manchester Evening News , on the back flap [Thomas had just received a proof copy of the book]. This seems a very dim and tame blurb, and very f