129
129 YEATS, W. B. Poems. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1895 From the library of Yeats’s first publisher, and “intimate enemy” First edition, first impression, one of 750 copies printed, UK issue, this a superb Celtic revival association copy, with the contemporary ownership inscription of Irish poet T. W. Rolleston, dated 2 November 1895 in blue pencil to front free endpaper. Rolleston (1857–1920) was a major figure in the Irish literary revival, and a close associate of Yeats. As the founding editor of the Dublin University Review , Rolleston was responsible for Yeats’s first appearance in print, a few lyrics appearing in the March 1885 issue. Together they co-edited Poems and Ballads of Young Ireland in 1888, co-founded the Rhymers Club in London in 1890, and co-founded the Irish National Literary Society in 1892. Rolleston’s poetry was included in the anthologies related to these institutions, usually under Yeats’s editorship. This close and collaborative friendship was broken by Rolleston falling onto the opposing side in Yeats’s dispute with Charles Gavan Duffy over the destiny of the National Literary Society, leading Yeats to remember Rolleston in his memoirs as his “intimate enemy”. Octavo. Original buff cloth, spine and boards with gilt lettering and elaborate designs by H. Granville Fell, edges untrimmed. Illustrated title page with tissue-guard. Spine tanned, corners bumped, sound and clean within, very good condition. ¶ Wade 16. £3,750 [155046] 130 ZOLA, Émile. Correspondence addressed to Ernest Alfred Vizetelly, friend and translator of Zola’s works. Paris, Médan, Monte Carlo, and England: 1893–1902 A unique collection of letters by one of the landmark French writers of the 19th century An important group of letters from Émile Zola to his translator and friend Ernest Vizetelly, son of Henry Vizetelly, who was the first
130
translator of his works. Over almost ten years and across a hundred handwritten pages, Zola discusses the publications and translations of his works, the reception and specificities of the English public, his visit to London for the congress of specialists in 1893, his London exile at the publication of J’Accuse , and the trial that followed. Zola sends his manuscripts to Vizetelly, who takes on the role of agent, seeing to contracts, both with newspapers for the publication of serials and for the publication of translations. Though Zola repeatedly says that he is not concerned with money, he nonetheless has his contract requirements. He trusts his friend entirely for his business in England, but when American publishers are interested in the translations of his works, negotiations seem tense at times: “As for the American affair, I will tell you that the house Macmillan hurt me by his attitude at the time to Fécondité , and I don’t see why I will continue to interact with people of such a mind.” He finally chose Doubleday, noting that he received “1990 fr. 60 cent., for my part of copyright on your translation of Fécondité , that the Doubleday house has just published in New York”. He is also concerned about the reception of his works in England. On Docteur Pascal : “I’m going to get into Docteur Pascal , which has nothing to do with Lourdes . It’s an intimate, passionate novel . . . It is to be the last volume of the Rougon-Macquart series. . . . You can try to place the English translation in London. It will not offend the modesty of your compatriots”. A little later, he even authorizes his translator to modify “the passages which would seem worrying to you”. He reiterates this authorization regarding the translation of Travail : “Travail will not frighten English modesty. It is at most if, in a single scene, a little lively, you will have to extinguish the colors of the painting”. He also assures his friend that Lourdes , which Vizetelly cannot sell to a newspaper, is not a “work of Catholic discussion” and that “the book can be put in the hands of young girls”.
ONLY CONNECT
100
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker