of the this meeting. They are: ‘Star Talk’, ‘Nine Clock’, to the and ‘Goodnight Meadow’, ‘Hawk Buckle’, ‘Loving Henry’ and the first four have been published to ‘Brittle Bones’. To date, date, as well as recorded. one of poems, (a modern nursery ‘Star Talk’, Graves’ earliest rhyme, from which Gurney chose just three of the five verses) is interesting as it was set twice: first in 1920, then again in 1925, when Gurney had been in the asylum for two years. It was the latter version which was published, and shows some signs of disturbance towards the end. Luckily his friend, Marion Scott, had made a copy of the first version, which has survived. The next known contact was a letter from Graves to Gurney in November 1920 from Hill: Boar’s Dear Gurney, Many thanks for yours, and glad to hear about ‘Brittle My new book should be Bones’ being accepted by Rogers. – out about Christmas [The and contains several Pier-Glass], lyrics of correct quality, but is very different as a book from Shanks is a very good fellow; Blunden Country Sentiment. one of the best in the world and solid all through; he is one of the great prose-writers of the future. He will never (but this is a private opinion not to be divulged) perhaps improve on volume in poetry though. Are you coming The Waggoner to Oxford? By the way, when fixing up an agreement with of mine. Of Rogers, please don’t sign away any copyright – course I by asking too much for the won’t queer your pitch words, but I have to do all these jobs through my literary agent. Yours sincerely, Robert Graves. Winthrop Rogers was an American music publisher in London
this meeting. They are: ‘Star Talk’, ‘Nine of the Clock’, ‘Goodnight to the Meadow’, ‘Hawk and Buckle’, ‘Loving Henry’ and ‘Brittle Bones’. To date, the first four have been published to date, as well as recorded. ‘Star Talk’, one of Graves’ earliest poems, (a modern nursery rhyme, from which Gurney chose just three of the five verses) is interesting as it was set twice: first in 1920, then again in 1925, when Gurney had been in the asylum for two years. It was the latter version which was published, and shows some signs of disturbance towards the end. Luckily his friend, Marion Scott, had made a copy of the first version, which has survived. The next known contact was a letter from Graves to Gurney in November 1920 from Boar’s Hill: Dear Gurney, Many thanks for yours, and glad to hear about ‘Brittle Bones’ being accepted by Rogers. – My new book should be out about Christmas [The Pier-Glass], and contains several lyrics of correct quality, but is very different as a book from Country Sentiment. Shanks is a very good fellow; Blunden one of the best in the world and solid all through; he is one of the great prose-writers of the future. He will never (but this is a private opinion not to be divulged) perhaps improve on The Waggoner volume in poetry though. Are you coming to Oxford? By the way, when fixing up an agreement with Rogers, please don’t sign away any copyright of mine. – Of course I won’t queer your pitch by asking too much for the words, but I have to do all these jobs through my literary agent. Yours sincerely, Robert Graves. Winthrop Rogers was an American music publisher in London
3613_richard_carder,_%5c'songs_of_graves%e2%80%99s_and_gurney%e2%80%99s_friends%5c'_(final).docx