Details
LOWELL, ROBERT. Land of Unlikeness. [Cummington, Mass.]: The Cummington Press 1944. 8vo, original blue boards, spine faded and with slight rubbing at head; half morocco slipcase. FIRST EDITION of the poet's very scarce first book, one of 250 ordinary copies of an edition of 276, introduction by Allen Tate, pictorial title-page printed in black red, and pale blue.
[With:]
R. LOWELL. Typed letter signed ("Robert Lowell") to "Dear Sirs" (publishers of Randall Jarrell's novel of academe, Pictures from an Institution), Cincinnati, 23 March [1954]. 1/2 p., 4to, single-spaced, in pocket in above slipcase. Writing a blurb for Pictures from an Institution: "...I would like very much to write a blurb. How about this? 'Mr. Jarrell has quite unAmerican liveliness and vigor of mind. His novel reminds me of the Blithedale Romance [by Hawthorne] or of a play by Cocteau...Mr. Jarrell is the foremost man of letters of my generation. His major accomplishment is doubtless in poetry, but he shows almost equal versatility in his fiction and critical essays. Pictures from an Institution is a moving story, and one told by an intellect whose urbanity and power cannot be overestimated..." (2)
[With:]
R. LOWELL. Typed letter signed ("Robert Lowell") to "Dear Sirs" (publishers of Randall Jarrell's novel of academe, Pictures from an Institution), Cincinnati, 23 March [1954]. 1/2 p., 4to, single-spaced, in pocket in above slipcase. Writing a blurb for Pictures from an Institution: "...I would like very much to write a blurb. How about this? 'Mr. Jarrell has quite unAmerican liveliness and vigor of mind. His novel reminds me of the Blithedale Romance [by Hawthorne] or of a play by Cocteau...Mr. Jarrell is the foremost man of letters of my generation. His major accomplishment is doubtless in poetry, but he shows almost equal versatility in his fiction and critical essays. Pictures from an Institution is a moving story, and one told by an intellect whose urbanity and power cannot be overestimated..." (2)