Giant Dream of Elephants
The Morrigu Press, 1982.
Printer's proof copy. Three printed sheets, folded once. Marked 'proof' in pencil to the final page and inscribed by Ted and Nicholas Hughes "For Olwyn, with love from Ted and Nicholas". Colophon by Leonard Baskin. A near fine copy, some browning to the corners.
A fine association copy of a scarce booklet, hand printed by the author's son.
Both Ted and Nicholas had a very close relationship with Olwyn. After the death of Sylvia Plath, Olwyn left Paris, where she had been working, and moved to Court Green to help Ted raise the children, so was a formative influence of Nicholas. She was also instrumental in his founding the Morrigu Press, having given him the Albion handpress he used for these and other publication.
Jonathan Bate, Hughes's biographer, refers to her as "his sister, agent, gatekeeper and confidante". They were bought closer together by their brother Gerald's departure for North Africa when he served the RAF during the war. One of his earliest unpublished poems comes from this time and is titled 'For Olwyn Each Evening' (Emory 980/2).
Later she became his literary agent "going into battle on her brother's behalf... [earning] a reputation as a fearsome, difficult gatekeeper and negotiator."
PROVENANCE: Olwyn Hughes (presentation inscription) thence by descent.
Stock ID: 38284
