“Lady Hoare formed a lifelong friendship with Thomas Hardy and both of his wives, Florence and Emma. Her collection of his novels fills the Library shelves. The books are crammed with letters, postcards and newspaper clippings.” (National Trust website.)
The book was later owned by one of my favourite literary figures and Powysians from the 20th century, Kenneth Hopkins. He signed the book above the purchase date written by Lady Hoare.
On the front endpaper Hopkins quotes from a letter written by John Cowper Powys to Boyne Grainger. I, in turn, have quoted the words as transcribed by Hopkins below.
"Don't send us your own copy of “Visions”; but if you ever come across another copy at a price lower than 3$ I’d dearly like to buy one; but the Devil carry me away if I’d pay more for this disordered rhetorical rhapsodist!”
- JCP to Boyne Grainger 6 May 1929.
What appears to be the back of the prospectus has been cut out and pasted onto the page opposite the Contents.
Visions and Revisions was published by Powys’ agent, G. Arnold Shaw.
The book.
John Cowper Powys, Visions and Revisions: a Book of Literary Devotions, G. Arnold Shaw, New York; and William Rider and Son, London, 1915.
