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Post by Michael Connolly on Apr 15, 2017 12:54:34 GMT
There is one of the later letters that I wish I had not read. Is it the one about how he fixed the erection problems of one of his young employees? This book raises some questions in my mind. 1. Is Derleth's son still alive? 2. How did they trick Campbell into allowing this stuff to be published? Yes, that's the letter. As for your questions, all I know is that Derleth's family is now running Arkham House.
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Post by ramseycampbell on Apr 15, 2017 14:32:50 GMT
Well, my attitude was that I shouldn't withhold anything, however much of a young shit some of the letters show me to be. I hope I'm more than just an old one now.
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Apr 15, 2017 14:56:40 GMT
however much of a young shit some of the letters show me to be. Granted, but I would not worry too much---your penpal steals the spotlight quite effectively.
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Post by helrunar on Apr 15, 2017 15:15:08 GMT
Thanks for those fascinating comments, JoJo Lapin. You've intrigued me. But I think I saw in another thread that the book is now OP.
And kudos to Mr. Campbell, for having the courage and honesty to agree to the publication of these letters. In the past, so much has been suppressed due to the prudery and distaste of the immediate posterity of an artist. Apparently, Thomas Burnett Swann's family destroyed his papers, or so it would seem--an example in the front of my mind as I recently learned of this.
Best wishes,
Helrunar
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Post by andydecker on Apr 15, 2017 17:26:05 GMT
Apparently, Thomas Burnett Swann's family destroyed his papers, or so it would seem--an example in the front of my mind as I recently learned of this
Now this is a writer I someday have to re-read. I really liked his fantasy. Seem to remember reading something about his unhappy life. Or maybe I am mixing things here.
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Post by helrunar on Apr 15, 2017 17:48:59 GMT
Hi Andy,
Almost nothing is known of Professor Swann's personal life. According to an amazing website Steven Saylor hosts on his own space, there is one print interview with Swann, and it was in a really obscure Louisville Kentucky fanzine for which no library in North America has recorded holdings.
Professor Swann died in his 40s of cancer. He produced quite the prolific body of work, publishing several literary monographs and other books in addition to his novels and short stories.
Best,
H.
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Apr 15, 2017 19:57:32 GMT
It is not quite what you think it is. At least I hope not.
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Post by mrhappy on Apr 16, 2017 1:51:36 GMT
Hi Andy, Almost nothing is known of Professor Swann's personal life. According to an amazing website Steven Saylor hosts on his own space, there is one print interview with Swann, and it was in a really obscure Louisville Kentucky fanzine for which no library in North America has recorded holdings. Professor Swann died in his 40s of cancer. He produced quite the prolific body of work, publishing several literary monographs and other books in addition to his novels and short stories. Best, H. I will keep an eye out for a copy of this fanzine (The Tyrrean Chronicles #4 1974) and will let you know if I turn anything up. I live in Louisville and there are a couple of odd places that something like this might be found in. Mr. Happy
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Post by helrunar on Apr 16, 2017 16:22:29 GMT
Gosh, Mr. Happy, that would be awesome. I was wondering if there might be some kind of F & SF group in the area that might know of any local libraries that collected these, but it's really a longshot. Believe it or not, professional librarians have become actively interested in zines but it is recent--maybe just in the last decade, or a little longer. In general, interest is high in the profession now in what are called "fringe" materials, since many of these are in danger of being lost forever as so many are under the impression that "it's all on the cloud now" (it isn't). I'll forego the rant...
Happy Hunting!!
H.
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Post by Michael Connolly on Apr 19, 2017 12:18:35 GMT
Well, my attitude was that I shouldn't withhold anything, however much of a young shit some of the letters show me to be. I hope I'm more than just an old one now. Ramsey, For the record, now that I've finished reading Letters to Arkham, my respect for you and August Derleth has gone up. He seems that he worked himself to death.
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Post by ropardoe on Apr 20, 2017 10:48:56 GMT
Medieval Studies and the Ghost Stories of M. R. James by Patrick J. Murphy has has been announced by Penn State University Press for publication in March or April (just too late to mention in the news section of the next Ghosts & Scholars - grrr!). Judging from what it says on the Penn State Press website, my guess is that the book is built around the series of papers which Murphy and Fred Porcheddu have written in recent years, looking at the interconnectedness of MRJ's ghost stories and his professional fields of study (something which Ghosts & Scholars has been preoccupied with for years!). For academics, Murphy and Porcheddu have actually done some interesting and new research on this subject - especially relating to "The Diary of Mr Poynter". Since the book is priced at around £60/$85 for under 250 pages, I don't see it reaching a new market though (cheaper to get the original articles through interlibrary loan). I don't think I'll be seeing a copy unless I'm sent one for review. Still, Murphy's introduction, which is long and interesting, can be read in full on the website. The cover artwork is truly dreadful! www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-07771-0.html I misjudged Penn State Univ Press because not only have they sent me a review copy, but I didn't even have to solicit it. I'm just about to pass it on to the person who will be reviewing it for G&S, but I've had a quick look through and, while I don't agree with some of what Murphy says, I'd rate it as the most important addition to Jamesian scholarship for years. There is much that is new to me here and some fresh discoveries, including something I'm kicking myself that I missed (no, I'm not going to explain, in case I can do something about it in the future!). The book is still ridiculously expensive though.
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Post by Michael Connolly on Apr 24, 2017 14:13:53 GMT
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Post by ropardoe on Apr 24, 2017 14:35:58 GMT
I can't disagree. I'll be giving it a miss. Oh, and "now sadly side-lined early 20th-century ghost story master MR James" ?
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Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Apr 24, 2017 15:06:00 GMT
I think this sounds like it could be a lot more fun; www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-haunting-of-malkin-place-1237Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures - THE HAUNTING OF MALKIN PLACEWhilst on the way to visit the birthplace of MR James, a chance encounter with a spiritualist on a train sends the Doctor and Romana on the trail of a ghost. It's the most convincing case of haunting he's ever heard of, he tells them. And so, on their arrival, does it appear to be.
Things go bump in the night at Malkin Place. The voice of a crying child. Birds bursting into flight. Strange movements in a seance.
The Doctor is determined there must be a rational explanation. But is science always the answer to everything?Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Simon (Arthur Dent) Jones, and traces of MRJ? It could have been made just for me, I reckon.
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Post by helrunar on Apr 24, 2017 16:21:31 GMT
That sounds awesome, Lurker. Thanks for apprising us of this.
Best wishes, H.
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