Last year’s Folio Society edition of ‘A Shropshire Lad’ by A. E. Housman contains Agnes Miller Parker’s 1940 wood engravings to this timeless set of poems. Much as I admire this superb artist’s work, I already possessed the Society’s 1986 edition illustrated in a more modern vein, so, I was not tempted to buy it. Well, not greatly. It is the latter version I finished reading today.
Here is the book jacket to another of my treasures, illustrated by the great engraver:
This is how The Folio Society publicise their latest edition:
“Beloved by both scholars and general readers, A Shropshire Lad was self-published in 1896 and has been continuously in print ever since. Housman, who was also the greatest classical scholar of his age, wrote the cycle of 63 poems after the death of his friend Adalbert Jackson. Among his themes are the transience of youth, the sorrow of death, the loss of friendship and the beauty of the English countryside. The poems’ depiction of young, brave soldiers made them widely popular during and after the Boer War and the First World War. They also captured the imagination of many composers, with George Butterworth, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Samuel Barber among those to set them to music.
Housman evokes a semi-imaginary pastoral landscape, his tone often rueful and elegiac as he evokes the ‘golden’ years of youth and the realm of classical myth. But it is perhaps for the directness and poignancy of his language that the poems have endured. On the vagaries of feeling and the fragility of human kinship, he is at once emotional and unsentimental, lyrical and frank.”
I enjoyed the poems and would concur with the above blurb.
Patrick Procktor’s illustrations suitably complement the text.
Here is the frontispiece;
and here the design for the endpapers.
For many years now, Folio Society publications have come in stiff cardboard slipcases. These are mostly unembellished. This one, however, has this portrait on the back:
Does it represent Adalbert Jackson?
This evening we dined on Jackie’s perfect pork paprika, savoury rice, and green beans, followed by lemon and lime merengue tart. The Cook drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the malbec.
P.S. I am indebted to Judith Munns for the information and Barrie Haynes for the photograph of this statue of Housman that stands in Bromsgrove, where Judith once lived:
I own many books with illustrations; there was a time when it was common practice to interrupt a narrative with pictures but I confess they are a nuisance to me and caused more page turning than necessary. No doubt some of the illustrations are masterpieces but I wouldn’t know. I never look at them.
Thank you, Mary. In my teens I wanted to be a book illustrator, but Art School wasn’t affordable
That is an unusual ambition! I wanted to be a Cantonese opera singer. 🙂 Then I wanted to be a writer.
Ah, well…….
Your book collection has some wonderful stuff in it!
Thank you Pauline. 60 years worth
The book looks a marvel. I know only some of the poems – and that through the words of some Ralph Vaughan Williams’ songs.
Many thanks, Bruce
Beautiful object Derrick
Thank you, Sylvie
These are beautiful illustrations. I do like that last portrait. I never had any patience for these poems–all that nostalgic looking backward and elegiac outlook. (For someone educated as a historian, this may seem odd, but it’s the glorification of the past that sets me off, the implication the present or the future can never be as good.) In any event, the description made me think these poems were due a visit from me as an older adult–‘the vagaries of feeling and the frailties of human kinship’–we can all use someone else’s clear-eyed input on that once in a while. Thanks for showing!
Thank you, Lisa. Many books are best encountered when we’ve had a bit of life. 🙂
You certainly have a treasure chest of books, Derrick.
Thanks, Jill
Being a book illustrator would be amazing, I think. It’s never too late, you know.
Thanks, Weekly. I’m into photography now
Is that your job or just a hobby?
A lifetime’s hobby
Well, you’re really good at it.
Many thanks, Weekly
I am a little envious of your collection Derrick.
Thanks, John. Pity I won’t have time to read them all 🙂
I love those Procktor illustrations.
Thank you, Jenny
What a fine post. The Folio Society is an excellent publishing firm. I have often been a customer and cherish every book I purchased. Thank you for sharing very useful information. 🙂
Thank you Micheline. I joined in 1960 and remained a member until 3 years ago when I finally accepted that I will not live long enough to read all I have 🙂
Wood engraving seems to be a lost art. This is a treasure.
Thank you, GP. I will soon be posting the rest of the Agnes Miller Parker illustrations, which are an absolute delight
Thanks, I’ll be looking forward to seeing them.
Dear Derrick – Interesting to see your post about A Shropshire Lad and the Folio Society edition with illustrations by Patrick Procktor. The full sheet of original illustrations will be included in a major show of Procktor’s work, opening at Arts University Bournemouth on 14 January. The Folio Society have kindly loaned the sheet for the show. Best wishes, Ian Massey
Many thanks Ian. We live at Downton near New Milton – not far from Bournemouth
Well do please come to the private view on 14 January if you would like. Information on the show is on the AUB website: http://aub.ac.uk/campus/thegallery/forthcoming-exhibitions/patrick-procktor-romantic
All the best – Ian
Thanks, Ian. It’s in the diary
Thank you for the marvelous introduction to both poet and artist. What a treasure trove your library is!
Many thanks, Seedbud
Loved this post! I was especially taken with “On the vagaries of feeling and the fragility of human kinship, he is at once emotional and unsentimental, lyrical and frank.” The hallmark of all good writers, don’t you think?
Certainly, Laurie. Thank you.
I love books with illustrations, and maps too. It would seem that you are a real connoisseur of old books, Derrick. I imagine you eschew the kindle, and treat it with disdain. 🙂
Thank you, Sylvia. Kindle. What’s that? 🙂
🙄
What a treasure… lovely collection….
Thank you, Chitra
Wonderful! Blue, remembered hills!
Yes, Mostly. Thank you
The 1986 Folio Society edition of ‘A Shropshire Lad’ is one of my favourite books. Not only do I like the nostalgic quality of the poems but I like to think back to the times when I could afford to be in the Folio Society!
As for the KIndle,you don’t get the reading experience you get from a Folio Society edition, but in my case I can store over 250 books on something the size of one slim volume. I’m currently clearing out, including several hundred books – from the space point of view Kindle is definitely the way to go!
Thank you Quercus. Another happy coincidence.
Indeed it is
Nicely researched and fascinating story, Derrick. Houseman with pastoral imagery and prose of youth sounds like a great read. The statue is very beautiful. Smiles, Robin
Thanks, Robin