Yeats, William Butler; Moore, T. Sturge; Bridge, Ursula (Editor)

W.B. Yeats and T. Sturge Moore: Their Correspondence 1901-1937

London, England, UK: Routledge & Kegan Paul LTD, 1953. First Edition. Hardcover. “The two poets whose correspondence forms this book, Thomas Sturge Moore (1870-1944) and William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), met through a third poet, Laurence Binyon, two years before the new century and formed a friendship that lasted until Yeats died. Looking back through the years, Sturge Moore wrote of the first meeting and the dual effect Yeats had on him: ‘His derision of the puritanical and scientific bases of my bringing up roused me to contend as much as his witty dream-soaked talk delighted me…I had early waited for a Leonardesque sweetness and subtlety which visited his features, and even in his bulky latter-day impressiveness sometimes refound it…He was fascinating both to watch and listen to; I liked him best alone; then the provocative truculence of his talk often gave place to seductive delicacy.’ (English: Summer 1939.) Yeats left no comparable description of Sturge Moore but much of this poet’s character is seen by reflection in his brother’s sedate and captivating autobiographical note to The Philosophy of G.E. Moore (Library of Living Philosophers, Northwestern University 1942).”---Ursula Bridge, “Introduction,” pg. ix. Edited by Ursula Bridge (1905-1971), British editor & writer, W.B. Yeats and T. Sturge Moore: Their Correspondence 1901-1937 is a comprehensive collection of the correspondence of the two writers. W.B. Yeats (1865-1939), was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and literary critic who was one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature; T. Sturge Moore (1870-1944), similarly was a British author, artist, and fellow poet. The two met in 1898 and became lifelong friends. Having great admiration, and respect for each other as poets, and each other's work, the two engaged in decades long conversations about art, philosophy, & their personal lives. From inside front flap of dust jacket: “This book contains the hitherto unpublished correspondence between two major poets of the first half of our century: W.B. Yeats and T. Sturge Moore. The private letters of great writers are always of particular value, and when the correspondence is between two men of equal powers of mind engaged in the same metier it is more than doubly valuable. There are over a hundred and fifty letters, covering the years 1901 to 1937, and ranging in subject from small technical points of verbal expression to a philosophical discussion lasting six years and arising out of an anecdote of Frank Harris about Ruskin’s cat.” From the collection of the late, great George Bornstein (1941-2021), scholar, author & academician at the University of Michigan- a quintessential Man of Letters. Hardcover in clipped dust jacket. First U.K. edition as stated at copyright page, presumed first printing though not explicated as such thereon. Book in relatively very fine condition with minor wear to fine edges, and mild discoloration due to age-toning throughout interior. Dust Jacket relatively very fine with minor wear to fine edges, and mild spotting/staining to front, back covers & spine. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #9327]

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