Letters relating to W. H. Davies

Twenty-one letters and postcards, 1951-1962, relating mostly to W. H. Davies, sent to E. E. Bissell from various correspondents, notably Davies's biographer Richard J. Stonesifer, 1952-1962 (ff. 26-42).
The other correspondents include Jean Mossop and G. Wren Howard of Jonathan Cape Ltd, 1960-1962, concerning the Stonesifer biography (ff. 1-9), Sir Andrew Duncan, 30 July 1951 (f. 10), John Haines, formerly Davies' solicitor, 1951-1952 (ff. 15-16, 19-21), with transcripts by Bissell (ff. 17-18, 22-23), and Madeline House, 1962 (ff. 24-25); a letter from T. W. Griffiths, Oxford, [2 July 1957] (f. 14), refers to Griffiths' letter in the Sunday Times, 23 June 1957, a cutting of which is f. 43. Also included are draft letters from Bissell to Sir Andrew Duncan's secretary, [14 April 1952] (f. 12), and Richard J. Stonesifer, [1952] (ff. 29-30); a photostat copy, [1952], of the receipt, 1905, for payment for the printing of the first edition of The Soul's Destroyer (London, 1905) (f. 33); and reproductions, [1952], of two photographs of Davies, [1920s], taken at the home of the artist Sir William Nicholson and given to Bissell by Richard Stonesifer (ff. 44-45, see also f. 35).

John Wilton (Jack) Haines (1875-1960) was a Gloucester based solicitor, amateur botanist, poet and bibliophile. He was associated with the group of poets living in the vicinity of Dymock, Gloucestershire, during the Edwardian period, becoming a close friend of Edward Thomas and Robert Frost; it was Haines who later coined the phrase 'Dymock Poets' to describe the group. His own poetry was published in John Haines, Poems (London, 1921). He married Alice Dorothy Mary Woodroffe (1881-1956) in 1911 and they had one son John Robert (Robin) Haines (1913-1988), also a solicitor. Jack Haines died on 24 April 1960 in Gloucester.

Arranged in broad alphabetical order by name of correspondent at NLW.

John Wilton (Jack) Haines (1875-1960) was a Gloucester based solicitor, amateur botanist, poet and bibliophile. He was associated with the group of poets living in the vicinity of Dymock, Gloucestershire, during the Edwardian period, becoming a close friend of Edward Thomas and Robert Frost; it was Haines who later coined the phrase 'Dymock Poets' to describe the group. His own poetry was published in John Haines, Poems (London, 1921). He married Alice Dorothy Mary Woodroffe (1881-1956) in 1911 and they had one son John Robert (Robin) Haines (1913-1988), also a solicitor. Jack Haines died on 24 April 1960 in Gloucester.

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 23807E.

Part of lot 305 at the Sotheby's sale, 16 July 1998.

Published