The Poetic Pattern

FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION. Presentation copy of Skelton's critical analysis of poetic style, inscribed by him to the painter Michael Seward Snow: "For Michael who has shown us so many poetic patterns / April 1956", and with a manuscript note on the rear free endpaper by W.S. Graham: "Lent to me and enjoyed by me I return to Michael Snow", signed and dated by Graham 17th April 1957. A wonderful association copy. Graham was friendly with many of the St. Ives painters and had a special affinity with Sven Berlin, Bryan Wynter and Roger Hilton. A generation younger, the artist Michael Snow (1930 2012) was Graham's literary executor and edited a volume of his letters published in 1999. The poet and teacher Robin Skelton (1925 1997) also lived in St. Ives and was the dedicatee of Graham's late poem 'How Are the Children Robin' about parental loss. Skelton edited Graham's posthumous collection 'Aimed at Nobody' (1993). Skelton and Snow were also close and in 1957 set up the Peterloo Group which grew into the Manchester Institute for Contemporary Art. Octavo. Original navy boards lettered in gold to spine. Rather worn and faded at extremities, toe of spine a little pushed , spotting to prelims and final pages, edges a little soiled and marked, occasional pencil underlining in early chapters. Dust jacket with tape repairs to spine ends and corners, a few nicks and marks, light sunning to edges and more to spine panel. Bears signs of frequent and attentive reading, a very good copy overall, attractively inscribed conveying both the warmth of friendship as well as something of the serious business of being an artist in 1950s St. Ives.…