Letter from W. L. Courtney to Thomas Hardy, 3 October 1907
[Page 1]Telephone No. 2711. GERRARD.
Telegraphic Address, "PICKWICK, LONDON."
CHAPMAN & HALL, LIMITED.
FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW.
11 Henrietta Street
Covent Garden
London
W.C.
October 3rd 1907
Thomas Hardy, Esq.
Dear Mr. Hardy,
I have read with deep interest the poem you were good enough to send me, entitled "A Sunday Morning Tragedy". You know how proud I am that you send your poems to me, and how glad I have been on several occasions to publish them. But I fear that I cannot possibly publish your latest poem, because of its subject. Personally I sometimes have a doubt whether even the greatest art can illustrate certain themes, or rather a certain class of horrors. I remember hearing a great lawyer say once that the worst cruelties were hidden away in law reports, and rightly so hidden, because if they were published to the world the world could not endure them.
Pray forgive my inability, which you must put down to the fact that the "Fortnightly Review" circulates among families.
Faithfully yours,
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Summary
Letter from William Courtney to Thomas Hardy declining to publish the poem 'A Sunday Morning Tragedy' in the Fortnightly Review, 3 October 1907
Metadata
From
Person
W. L. CourtneyPlace
11 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London, W. C.
Date
3 October 1907
To
Person
Thomas HardyPhysical Description
Typed on cream paper with a letterhead. Pencil library mark on page 2: H.1628.
Source
Dorset County Museum, H.1628
