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Published: n.d. [c1969]. Not signed by author. Association copy. A small-press poetry collection featuring two personal letters and a 'hidden masterpiece' of English rural verse. Tucked within this copy is the only known complete text of Eric Pentecost s unpublished poem, 'My Son'. A moving, 30-line manual of stoicism and bushcraft, the poem instructs a non-existent heir to be 'wise as the owl' and 'firm as the oak', culminating in the haunting realisation that, like the eagle, the author 'flies alone'. Accompanied by personal letters to the Folkes family of Stourton Hall, this archive offers a human look at a man attempting to pass his soul to a child he never had. Association copy documenting a personal exchange between the author, Eric Pentecost, and Mrs. J.H. Folkes. The two included letters from Pentecost, reveal a charming narrative of a reader seeking out the author after admiring his contributions to The Field. Most notably, the association is deepened by the inclusion of a typed, unpublished poem, "My Son," sent by Pentecost to Mrs. Folkes. This poem serves as a private soliloquy on the author s lack of an heir, providing a rare and vulnerable "shadow-text" to the published "Ditties" within. DESCRIPTION: A small-press collection of poetry and prose by Eric Lancelot Copleston Pentecost, reflecting personal, rural, and reflective themes. The work includes pieces originally published in The Field magazine. Black and white DJ over black cloth with gilt titles to front. Illustrated Language: English Book Condition: Fine. DJ Condition: No DJ. Pages 202. ADDITIONAL ITEMS: Containing two personal signed letters (from Eric Pentecost to Mrs. J. H. Folkes and Mrs. P. D. Folkes of Stourton Hall, Stourbridge) and the complete, unpublished 30-line poem My Son. This manuscript is a conduct poem written in the tradition of Kiplings If, blending practical country skills (skinning trophies, darning socks) with a stoic code of honour. The poems conclusion, contrasting the communal life of the rook with the solitary flight of the eagle, serves as a poignant epitaph for Pentecosts own childless legacy and personal history. PROVENANCE BACKGROUND: Originates from the personal library of the Folkes family of Stourton Hall, Stourbridge. BOOK RESUME: Ditties and Discourse is a curated anthology of Pentecosts humorous and reflective prose and poetry, originally composed for a discerning rural audience. The text moves fluidly between the light-hearted action of sporting life and the quiet soliloquy of personal observation. It is an illustrated work that seeks to capture the essence of English character through a series of vignettes and rhythmic verses. However, this specific volume is elevated by the inclusion of a typed poem titled My Son, which acts as a poignant postscript to the book. In it, Pentecost explores the concept of fatherhood from the perspective of one who never had children, offering a rare, sombre counterpoint to the more jovial selections found within the printed pages. AUTHOR: Eric Lancelot Copleston Pentecost (1896-1983) was a notable figure within the English rural and sporting establishment, perhaps best known outside of literature for his significant contributions to agriculture as a pioneer in the breeding of Poll Hereford cattle. A man of deep tradition and intellectual curiosity, Pentecost spent much of his life at Cropwell Butler in Nottinghamshire. His literary output was characterized by a sharp wit and an observant eye for country life, but as the included manuscript material reveals, beneath his public 'ditties' lay a reflective and often melancholy interior life. His poetry allowed him a space to explore themes of nature, heritage, and the deeply personal 'what might have been' regarding family and legacy.
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