THOMAS HARDY THANKS FELLOW AUTHOR GRANT ALLEN FOR A COPY OF HIS BOOK THE LOWER SLOPES ~ IN WHICH ALLEN LAUDS THE QUALITY OF HARDY’S TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES 

HARDY, THOMAS.  (1840-1928).  English novelist and poet of the naturalist movement, who powerfully delineated characters, portrayed in his native Dorset, struggling helplessly against their passions and external circumstances.  Interesting Autograph Letter Signed “Yours sincerely, Thomas Hardy” on 16 Pelham Crescent, South Kensington stationery.  Two full pages, octavo, South Kensington, England, May 22, 1894.  Superb condition.  To Mr. Grant Allen.  Hardy writes:

 

“My dear Grant Allen: the “Lower Slopes” is a volume I prize very much as coming from you.  I have already read much of the contents, though the constant demands upon my time here in London have hindered my acknowledging the receipt of the book.  The poems which strike me most I think are “The New Poetry” and “Mylitta” but I have not read all.  Thanks for your generous stanza at the beginning.  Are you and Mrs Allen ever in London on Mondays—my wife is usually at home then at ½ past 5—and would certainly be if you write.  Yours sincerely Thomas Hardy.”

 

In this letter Hardy thanks friend and fellow author Grant Allen (1848-1899) for the gift of his volume of poems, The Lower Slopes, which Hardy has just begun reading.  Hardy thanks Allen “for your generous stanza at the beginning.”  Allen had inscribed the copy “Take, Hardy, take these stammering lays,/Nor deem him all too bold,/Who, half reluctant, thus repays/Your Tess with brass for Gold./G.A.”  Hardy, who had published Tess of the D’Urbervilles in 1891, had given a copy to Allen, who is indicating in his short poem that his book is like brass compared to Tess’s gold.

 

$3650.00