Archibald, Douglas; Yeats, William Butler; Bornstein, George

Yeats with: Ephemera

ISBN: 0815622635
Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1983. First Edition. Hardcover. With hand-typed, signed letter from Douglas Archibald to George Bornstein. "(William Butler) Yeats always maintained that his quest for "the originals of my thought" led to the achievement of "an ideal expression." Douglas Archibald seeks to define and explore this process: What are the encounters? What happens when Yeats's imagination meets the words or work, consciousness or presence, of others? How do they contribute to his sense of personal identity and historical circumstance? (Douglas) Archibald places Yeats in the tradition of Romantic poetry, but he also shows where Yeats modifies that tradition." (from front flap) An acclaimed critical biography of William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), the canonical poet & author in the Pantheon of Irish Giants along with James Joyce, Oscar Wilde et al. Author Douglas Archibald (1933-2020) was a most-respected scholar & academician, & this work is "Rich in factual detail and even richer in interpretive insights which experienced scholars will find challenging and helpful, Archibald's Yeats is certain to become a standard and indispensable study of this great poet's life and work." (from rear flap) Forty-three years later as of this writing, it has proven to have become so. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, first edition as stated at copyright page, first printing though not specified thereon. From the collection of George Bornstein (1941-2021), an esteemed author, scholar & academician here at the University of Michigan, & a dearly missed friend of this writer. Bornstein's academic & authorial specialties were the great Irish writers, particularly Yeats. We found & have retained, between front paste-down & endpaper, a letter on Colby College (in Maine, USA where he taught & was appointed dean of faculty) stationary dated "10/29" of an unknown year, hand-typed & signed ("Best/ Doug") in blue ink to Bornstein ("George"). The letter (see image) demonstrates that Archibald & Bornstein were friendly & mutually supportive colleagues in advanced Yeats scholarship, & its last sentence is "I'd value your opinions." Single stationary sheet typed, written & occasionally highlighted on recto only, in relatively good-near fine condition with slight age-toning, light edge & corner wear at sides & bottom, more serious wear, creasing at/from upper edge, corners (where its height exceeds the volume). An essential Yeats-related Archibald collectible in its rarest contemporary form, greatly enriched with scholar-to-scholar ephemera & with the most distinguished, relevant association & provenance. Book in relatively quite very fine condition with only very slight rubbing to black-cloth front, back covers & spine esp. several tiny areas at depressed edge between spine & front cover; a touch of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same esp. upper right corner of front cover; slight rubbing, faint spotting & a hint of age-toning to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves, otherwise appearing substantially mint. Dust jacket relatively fine with mild rubbing, occasional spotting & a bit of age-toning to front, back covers, spine & flaps; slight wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same esp. upper edges/corners. Very Fine / Fine. [Item #9325]

Price: $75.00