Peters, Robert (Editor); Tennyson, Alfred et al.

Letters to a Tutor: The Tennyson Family Letters To Henry Graham Dakyns (1861-1911) With The Audrey Tennyson Death-Bed Diary

ISBN: 0810821036
Metuchin, NJ & London, England: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1988. First Edition. Hardcover. "Letters To A Tutor (sic) presents nearly 300 letters written by Alfred Lord Tennyson's wife, children, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren to Henry Graham Dakyns. Dakyns served as tutor to the two Tennyson sons, Lionel and Hallam, in the 1860s and remained a lifelong friend and confidant of the Tennysons...The letters, hitherto ignored by Tennyson scholars, help complete the extant editions of biographies, journals, and letters by the Tennyson's and provide fascinating glimpses into Victorian education, upper-class cultural and social attitudes, and a rare friendship. The poignant deathbed diary kept by Audrey, Hallam's wife, who attended the poet in his final days, appears here for the first time." (from prospectus) Among his many achievements, the great American man of letters Robert Peters (1924-2014) was a pre-eminent literary scholar of the Victorian era. In this volume, Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892), among the giants of Victorian poetry & literature, & his family correspond with Henry Dakyns (1838-1911), a tutor to the Tennyson children who remained a close friend of the family even after Alfred's death. The heretofore unpublished letters & diaries are carefully compiled & edited by Peters, with the assistance of Janine Dakyns, Henry's granddaughter. With frontispiece & section of many photographs of members of the Tennyson & Dakyns families; an informative introduction & acknowledgments by Peters; bibliography & index. First edition hardcover without dust jacket as issued. Also included loosely, between rear endpaper & inner rear cover where we found & have left them, are a publisher's prospectus & a Xerox copy of a short article-review of this book by John Bates from Library Review, Vol. 38, No. 2 as hand-noted & copied here at top margin, along with the phrase "Ain't this nice?" & "Peters," all we believe originally in Peters' hand. The review applauds the physical quality of the book in contrast to British productions; & Peters has underlined the phrases "the editor's work is exemplary" & "it is all so well done, it really deserves a prize." A very rare & desirable collectible for Tennyson & Peters devotees. Book in very fine condition, virtually as new inside & out. Prospectus & copied article also in very fine condition: Prospectus with only some faint, short creases on surface; minor wear & a few tiny bumps, thin curling at top edge. Article folded in half horizontally with minor creasing & curling to surfaces, edges & corners esp. at several edges where it exceeds book dimensions or is tucked in spine-edge of book. Very Fine. [Item #3232]

Price: $50.00 save 20% $40.00