Add MS 89404/4/54

(1). Letters from John Muckle to Peter Hodgkiss. As well as providing a guide to the publication of The Cresta Run, the letters include remarks in passing on the progress of the publication under the Paladin imprint of poetry volumes by John Ashbery, Tom Raworth, Lee Harwood, and the anthology The New British Poetry (1988) which Muckle, then employed by Grafton Books, initiated.

• 2 May 1985. Typed letter: 'In response to your query about new work of mine, I'm sending you the enclosed story THE CRESTA RUN [...]. I think it could make a good Galloping Dog pamphlet, perhaps complemented with a few poems.'
• 8 Jul 1986. Autograph letter (2 sheets). Muckle has undertaken 'a major rewrite' of 'The Cresta Run'. Encloses the story 'Wrecking Cruise'. Another story, 'Blue Yodel', is in its 'final stages of revision'. Muckle is 'still working in "mainstream" publishing'; 'Grafton have miraculuously decided they want to publish some poetry & they're letting me put a list together'. The list is to begin with 'Selected Poems' by John Ashbery.
• 4 Aug 1986. Autograph letter, enclosing 'Blue Yodel' - 'which I think is the best of them so far'. Letter refers to adopting a multi-editor approach to The New British Poetry anthology.
• 6 Nov 1986. Typed letter. Muckle wantes to undertake further revision of the stories. Meanwhile, the poetry anthology 'grinds on very slowly'.
• 13 Jan 1987. Typed letter. 'Herewith a complete typescript for The Cresta Run.' Meanwhile, 'the poetry anthology is on the move again. Linton Kwesi Johnson has agreed to edit the Black poets [a task that Fred D'Aguiar soon took over], Gillian Allnutt the feminists - and Eric Mottram/Ken Edwards respectively the older and younger generations of small press poets.' Ashbery's Selected Poems is to be published in May.
• 27 Jan 1987. Autograph letter, together with Muckle's 'suggested blurb - on an official Grafton form, no less.' Letter annotated by Hodgkiss: 'Proofs sent 13/3/87'.
• 13 Mar 1987 (postmark). Autograph postcard: 'Please go ahead with the cover I sent'. Meanwhile, Muckle has 'managed to persuade Grafton to do a Selected Poems apiece of Tom Raworth & Lee Harwood'.
• 22 Mar 1987. Typed letter, sending corrected proofs (see below): 'Rather than mark the camera ready copy I took a photocopy and marked up that. Typesetter's errors are in red, my corrections in black. I've marked widows (halflines at top of pages) in red.' Regarding the poetry anthology, 'Mottram violently disagrees that there should be black or feminist editors, which is a potential source of friction (putting it mildly)'.
• 9 Apr 1987. Autograph letter.
• 22 Apr 1987. Autograph letter, together with a new blurb by 'a friend'.
• 16 May [1987]. Typed letter. 'The Ashbery Selected has been getting a lot of publicity and consequently copies of it keep flying out of the office.'
• 10 Aug [1987]. Typed letter, suggesting destinations for review copies. At Grafton Books, Muckle is waiting for editors to deliver the poetry anthology at the end of the month, and busy getting Raworth and Harwood books ready for the typesetter.
• 8 Sep 1987. Autograph letter, having just received his copies of The Cresta Run.
• 3 Nov 1987. Autograph letter. Muckle has had 'some nice personal feedback on the book'. At Grafton, 'Lee and Tom's books have finally gone into production. The anthology's delivered - except (guess) for Mottram's section.'
• 4 Jan 1988. Brief autograph letter, together with photocopy of a brief review of The Cresta Run in City Life (Manchester).
• [1988]. Autograph note (on Grafton Books compliment slip) enclosing copy of a review (not present) by Nick Kimberley, published in City Limits, of The Cresta Run and Phil Maillard, Plot 20.

(2). Front cover image source: black and white photocopy of car advertisement.

(3). 'Blue Yodel'. Earlier typed draft (18 sheets).

(4). 'Blue Yodel'. Subsequent typescript (18 sheets).

(5). 'Month of Blue Moons'. Photocopy typescript (8 sheets).

(6). 'Wrecking Cruise'. Photocopy typescript (8 sheets).

(7). 'The Cresta Run'. Phoptocopy typescript (29 sheets), as first submitted 2 May 1985.

(8). 'The Cresta Run'. Second draft. Photocopy typescript (28 sheets).

(9). 'The Cresta Run'. Third draft (26 sheets).

(10). Corrected proofs for the book. Photocopy typeset text, annotated in red and black ink according to Muckle's letter of 22 Mar 1987.