BIB_ID
408306
Accession number
MA 9176.48
Creator
Henderson, James, 1823-1906.
Display Date
[1888].
Credit line
Gift of Jane Stedman, 1972.
Description
1 item (4 pages) ; 18.1 x 11.3 cm
Notes
The letter is signed "The Editor 'The Olympic' 'T.F.P.'"
The letter is undated, however, the author refers to the re-issue of "Sonnets of This Century" being published "this week". "Sonnets of This Century" was published originally in 1886 in London by Walter Scott and re-issued by the same publisher in 1888. The 1888 edition includes Miss Gillington's poem.
Written on stationery printed "46, Talgarth Road, / West Kensington, / W."
The "Olympic", referred to in the signature, was the Literary Olympic, a competition for young writers sponsored by The Young Folks Paper published and edited by James Henderson.
The letter is undated, however, the author refers to the re-issue of "Sonnets of This Century" being published "this week". "Sonnets of This Century" was published originally in 1886 in London by Walter Scott and re-issued by the same publisher in 1888. The 1888 edition includes Miss Gillington's poem.
Written on stationery printed "46, Talgarth Road, / West Kensington, / W."
The "Olympic", referred to in the signature, was the Literary Olympic, a competition for young writers sponsored by The Young Folks Paper published and edited by James Henderson.
Provenance
Gift of Jane Stedman, 1972.
Summary
Providing critical feedback, at length and in detail, on poems she has submitted; saying "I have followed your contributions to the 'Olympic' with great interest. These invariably have distinct merit, although - as is natural - unequal. When anything by you is not in the first-class, it is because I do not consider it up to your own level. I am pleased to note that, unlike some contributors, you are always content to abide by the editorial decision, whatever that may be. Now, I am going to speak frankly. I think your verses now in my hands to be the work of a real poet, and not merely of a clever versifier: further, I think them full of promise and, far from infrequently, of something more than mere promise. For this very reason it behooves you to be very careful that in technical excellence you are up to the mark - to use a useful colloquialism. Some of the poems are too crude to be published with advantage as they stand - others require polishing. But in my sincere conviction that if ultimately you publish a volume it cannot fail to attract You have one special quality, and I would advise you to cultivate it especially - I refer to your love and frequent literary use of the sea. I may safely say that your chances of success would be doubled if you brought out a volume thoroughly permeated with this sea-music - I mean with every poem having more or less of the 'sea' in it. This would give a distinct flavour to it. Have you ever thought of your and your sister's publishing in conjunction? I am so genuinely interested in your poems that I will be glad to look them through again whenever you think of publishing in book form, and giving you some advice which may be of service. Your special characteristics seem to me a delightful lyrical faculty - very unusual among young writers : and a keen sense of the delicate tones and gradations of nature's colouring;" saying he would like to keep her work as he has "...a special reason for the request, but shall say no more on the point just now. Meanwhile it may encourage and please you to know that the Editor of 'Sonnets of This Century' has included your 'Intra Muros' in the re-issue of that book published this week."
Catalog link
Department