Add MS 89669

Contains 365 pages of uncorrected proofs (contents, introduction by Fred d’Aguiar, the poems, and potted biographies of the poets) of The New British Poetry 1968-88, edited by Gillian Allnutt, d'Aguiar, Ken Edwards, and Eric Mottram and published by Paladin in 1988. The first page is signed by John Muckle, the anthology's general editor. The proofs are complete from the contents page onwards although the Contents and Biographical notes are incomplete. The proofs differ slightly from the published edition: a visual poem by Bob Cobbing is on its side; Errol Francis's poem was published in an extended form; Colin Simms and Gael Turnbull were both given an additional poem; Michael Horovitz's two poems were replaced with five poems by Asa Benveniste - Horovitz had tried to persuade Muckle that all contributors should be paid at Society of Authors rates. When Muckle said that was not possible, Horovitz campaigned to have the contributors withdraw. As a result, Muckle removed Horovitz's poems. Eighty four poets were represented in the book - they are listed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_British_Poetry.

Also contains:

• a photocopy of a typed letter from Mottram, writing from King's College London, to [Lydia] Drukarz, a publicity assistant at Paladin/Grafton, 24 Sep 1988. Mottram criticises Drukarz's choice of the Poetry Society as the venue for the book's launch on 6 Oct given the Society's opposition to what many of the contributors stand for. He wonders if it was intended as a deliberate insult, and accuses the Society of hypocrisy, or a tasteless joke, in hosting the event. Mottram adds an autograph note to John [Muckle] enclosing this copy.
• An autograph letter from Mottram to Muckle, 26 Sep 1988, praising, and thanking, Muckle for his efforts on the anthology.
• A typed letter from Mottram to Muckle, 23 Oct 1988, chiefly relating to other matters (including Mottram's writing of a reference for Muckle's application for a Hawthornden Writing Fellowship [Muckle's application was successful]) but also referring to another launch event for the anthology.
• The publisher's prospectus announcing the anthology, Lee Harwood's Crossing the Frozen River, and Tom Raworth's Tottering State, with photographs, quotations, and cover images. The Harwood and Raworth volumes were slated for publication on 6 Oct, the date of the anthology's launch.