Showing 191 results

First edition of poet and translator Vernon Watkins's collection of poems Cypress and Acacia, published by Faber & Faber in 1959, the frontispiece inscribed in Watkins's hand: 'for Maurice Zarb, a true friend of unfailing kindness, in gratitude [signed] Vernon'.
Together with:

Letter, 1959, from Vernon Watkins to Maurice Zarb, which references Watkins's family, the poems titled 'A Man with a Field' and 'The Scythe' (both of which appear in the enclosed volume) and Watkins's and Zarb's work at Bletchley Park (see note below) during the Second World War. For Cypress and Acadia see, for example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cypress-Acacia-Vernon-Watkins/dp/0571036872.

(Undated) photocopied typescript of a critical analysis by Vernon Watkins titled 'The Poetry of Wilfred Owen'. According to a note which originally accompanied this sub-archive, this item was given to Tony Curtis by Vernon Watkins in 1966 when Watkins was tutor to Curtis at the then University College, Swansea (for further material relating to Curtis's period of study at University College, Swansea, see April 2016 papers under heading University College, Swansea).

Notes made and essays submitted, 1966-1968, by Tony Curtis during his time as a student at Swansea University. Folder in which notes originally kept titled 'MODERN ENGLISH & AMERICAN', with list of literary figures and date ''66-8'. Essays include tutor observations and marks, and margin notes by Curtis. One set of notes (on T. S. Eliot) in another (unidentified) hand. Notes made by Curtis on rear of original folder retained with contents. Authors referenced include Joseph Conrad, T. S. Eliot, Harold Pinter, Herman Melville, William Faulkner, Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller.

Names of literary figures referenced by Curtis are not indexed. For full details, viewing of material is recommended.

Photocopied typescript Television Wales and West (TWW) camera script, dated 30 January 1968, for the 'Gwyn Thomas Lectures', the recording featuring poet and academic Gwyn Thomas and students of University College, Swansea, Bristol University and the Workers' Educational Association (WEA). According to a note which originally accompanied this sub-archive, the recording of the lectures was attended by Tony Curtis and his wife Margaret while they were both post-graduate students at University College, Swansea.

Material relating to Tony Curtis's period of study within the Department of English, University College, Swansea (now Swansea University), comprising: course details and reading lists; lecture/seminar notes taken by Tony Curtis; typescript copies of poetry by various poets, some annotated by Tony Curtis; translation into English by Tony Curtis of 'Balade de Bon Conseyl' by François Villon, with tutor comments and mark; and printed Cwmni Theatr Cymru/Welsh Theatre Company programme of readings of First World War prose and poetry. The last folio of these papers appears to have been written in a hand other than Tony Curtis's (see also reference under heading Department of Philosophy).

Poetry magazines edited and contributed to by University College Swansea students during the mid to late 1960s and which include poems contributed by Tony Curtis. The magazines comprise 'Poetry Magazine' (1967), 'Campus' (1968) and 'Rumpus' (issues 1-3, 5; undated).

Filed papers relating to a Philosophy course undertaken by Tony Curtis during his time at University College, Swansea (now Swansea University), comprising exam papers, with annotations in Tony Curtis's hand, and lecture/seminar notes taken by Curtis.
One section of notes, titled 'Testing' and dated 'Feb 1st', appears to be written in a hand other than that of Tony Curtis (see also reference under heading Department of English).
File bears inscriptions and doodles in Tony Curtis's hand.

First edition of Bryan Stanley (B. S.) Johnson's experimental novel The Unfortunates, published by Panther Books Ltd in 1969, comprising loose leaves of the novel wrapped in a plastic binding and encased within a box, with printed instructions by Johnson on how to read the novel.
Together with press cuttings reviewing The Unfortunates; letters and cards, 1969-1973, from B. S. Johnson to Tony Curtis; and press cuttings announcing the death of B. S. Johnson in 1973. For The Unfortunates see, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unfortunates

Papers [?student exercises] apparently relating to the study of Welsh poetry, including examples of Welsh poetry showing metre notation and rhyming scheme; draft poetry, with amendations; and translations of Welsh poetry into English. One principal and one secondary hand, neither of which are those of Tony Curtis.

Press cuttings relating to poetry readings by Tony Curtis at the Arts Club, Tenby [1972/1973] and at the St David's Festival, Pembrokeshire, 1973.

Draft contents page of Album, Tony Curtis's collection of poems published by Christopher Davies in 1974 (see, for example: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3786389-album); and letter to Curtis from Christopher Davies Publishers, enclosing a reader's report.

See reference in April 2016 papers under heading Letters to Tony Curtis.

Letter, 1974, to Tony Curtis from Anglo-Welsh poet, writer and teacher A. G. (Arthur Glyn) Prys-Jones, responding to Three Young Anglo-Welsh Poets, a volume of poems by Tony Curtis, Duncan Bush and Nigel Jenkins, published by the then Welsh Arts Council in 1974 (see, for example: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1652408.3_Young_Anglo_Welsh_Poets).

Draft annotated manuscript/typescript copy of Tony Curtis's rejected manuscript The Great Welsh Novel, which includes title and contents pages and chapter headings. Letters from 'Emmet Roster' and from 'Owen T. G. Williams', included within the body of the manuscript, are fictional and form part of the text. A letter addressed to Tony Curtis from Christopher Davies (Publishers) Ltd, enclosing a review of the manuscript and a letter in response from Curtis (all of which are kept in marked envelope), are genuine and NOT part of the fictional text, although Curtis's letter of response states that he incorporated the (included) review 'in the new version of the novel'.

In reference to note to chapters titled 'Noose and Fifty' and 'The High School', see under heading Out of the Dark Wood (Edge Press, 1977) .

WARNING: CHAPTER TITLED 'WELCOME TO NEW YORK' CONTAINS RACIST ATTITUDES AND OFFENSIVE TERMINOLOGY (account appears to be based on factual event, but racist content presumably does not reflect author views). Chapter marked with cautionary 'post-it' note.

Undated copy of 'Phoebus' poetry magazine, which includes contributions by Tony Curtis.

Material, largely comprising correspondence between Tony Curtis and prospective contributors, relating to the compilation and publication of a pamphlet edited by Tony Curtis titled The Poetry of Pembrokeshire. Correspondents include poet and writer Alison Bielski, Anglo-Welsh poet, editor, lecturer and critic Raymond Garlick, poet, writer and translator Robert Minhinnick, poet, writer and editor Roland Mathias and poet, critic, teacher and broadcaster Jeremy Hooker.
A further anthology of poetry relating to Pembrokeshire, also titled The Poetry of Pembrokeshire, was edited by Curtis and published by Seren Books in 1989 (see, for example: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Poetry_of_Pembrokeshire.html?id=z7zyAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y; https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-poetry-of-pembrokeshire/tony-curtis/9781854110077).
For Pembrokeshire-themed poems, see also under heading Individual poems (loose papers).

For access to full range of correspondents, it is recommended that this section of the archive be requested for viewing.

Literary and arts magazines featuring work by Tony Curtis, namely 'Phoebus' ([late 1960s-early 1970s]); 'Contrasts' (issues 3-9, [late 1960s-early 1970s]); 'Viewpoints' (issues 61-64, 66-67, 70-71, December 1968-August 1970); 'Country Quest' (February 1969); 'London Welshman' (Vol. 24, No. 2, February 1969, Vol. 24, No. 7, July-August 1969); 'Headland' (issues1, 10, January 1970, April 1972); 'Arts Alive Merseyside' (issue 21, June 1971); 'Pink' (issue 7, summer 1973); 'Eureka' (issue 6, May 1974); Glamorgan College of Education 'Anglo-Welsh Poetry Manuscript Exhibition' (March 1975); and 'Lon Chaney' (issue [?1], undated).

Script of a 'radio ode' by Tony Curtis titled 'Islands'. Includes some annotation in Curtis's hand.

Poetry and other material given to Tony Curtis in the 1970s by other Anglo-Welsh poets and writers who were or who would subsequently become well-known, namely Dannie Abse, Sam Adams, Alison Bielski, Gillian Clarke, Tony Conran, Jeremy Hooker, Nigel Jenkins, Glyn Jones (unnamed, but see, for example: https://www.waterstones.com/book/corgi-series-common-path-the/glyn-jones/9780863817212), Roland Mathias, Christopher Morgan, Robert Morgan, Leslie Norris, John Ormond, Alan Perry, Douglas Phillips, A. G. Prys-Jones, Sally Roberts-Jones, R. George Thomas, John Tripp, Gwyn Williams and John Stuart Williams, which includes draft and fair-copied poems and biographical and bibliographical information relating to the individual poet/writer, together with letters, 1975, to Tony Curtis from Gillian Clarke, Nigel Jenkins and Robert Morgan, and from the Anglo-Welsh poet Raymond Garlick, who is not represented in the body of this material. Multiple drafts of poems show the progression of the poets' works. Poems by Alan Perry include a letter to Perry from the Sunday Times accepting his poem 'The Smell of Baking Bread' for publication.
A. G. Prys-Jones's work includes English translations of 'Aberdaron' by Cynan (Albert Evans-Jones) and 'Ystrad Fflur' by T. Gwynn Jones.

Material relating to seminars and workshops in which Tony Curtis participated, comprising:

Details of an Anglo-Welsh poetry seminar run by Tony Curtis, with attached poems by Curtis. No date.

Material relating to the 17th International Yeats Summer School, held in Sligo, August 1976, which Tony Curtis attended.

Miscellaneous material relating to Tony Curtis, which includes rough manuscript notes; list of authors and [?publishing dates]; photocopied texts from printed sources; and three paper plates inscribed with what appear to be messages from friends to Tony Curtis on his thirtieth birthday (the initials 'JT' possibly referring to the Anglo-Welsh poet and writer John Tripp).

Manuscript and typescript poems by Anglo-Welsh poet and writer John Tripp, one poem signed and one poem, titled 'American Pie', including a note in Tripp's hand presumably addressed to Tony Curtis: 'Any good for one of yr U.S. connections, or [arts magazine] Madog?'