Correspondence, Earle Birney
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Department of EnglishThe University of British ColumbiaVancouver, B.C.February 2, 1951DearMr. Lionel Monteith editor of Poetry Commonwealth. has written me that he is now under medical care and does not expect to be in a position to publish his magazine for at least a year. This means that the Canadian number of Poetry Commonwealth. which I assembled and transmitted to him last May will not be appearing. I have written asking Mr. Monteith if he could not possibly find another poetry magazine in England which would take over the material and issue a Canadian number, I have had no reply from him.Regretfully, therefore, I enclose your contribution to this issue and my apologies for a situation which I was unable to do anything about. v* 'Sincerely yours Earle Birney/ms
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-1-54Dear Ralph,4590 W.3rd Ave.,Vancouver 8,CanadaHad a good two weeks in Toronto.Stayed over to do 5 t.v. shows. I advise you to visit while the toy is new up there—you can finance your journey easily,appearing on panels,etc. Saw Ned Pratt and several others who were glad to have my news of you.Ned has a touch of glaucoma and isnt writing & feels seedy.Art Smith on a panel with me, on his way to Montreal for Xmas. The Birney family’ flew home from Tor. and are now deep in their varioas ruts of school,college and kitchen.Also answering phones,paying bills,unpacking,and trying not to notice the provincial air too much. It was good seeing you,Ralph,and to bask in your excellent hospitality. I hope it wont be long before we can play host to you in Vancouver. A1J„ the best,
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CABLE ADDRESS ’•RESEARCH*’IN YOUR REPLY PLEASE QUOTE FILE N0. .1-.13-.21-B-7NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCILCANADAOFFICE OFADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL Ottawa 2, 26 August, 1952Mr. Ralph Gustafson, 2. W. 67 St.,New York 23, N.Y.Dear Mr. Gustafson,-The Government of Canada has completed arrangements to use part of the blocked balances standing to its credit in Prance and the Netherlands to provide fellowships and scholarships in these countries. The fellowships are valued at $4*000. for twelve months and are for advaneed study in the arts* humanities, social sciences, sciences and professions. They are intended to give Canadian men and women of proven ability an opportunity to spend a year abroad and to devote their time to whatever programme they feel will be of most benefit to them professionally.Mr. Earle Birney has given your name as one who is familiar with his work and who might be consulted regarding his application for a fellowship that would enable him to spend a year in Prance or Holland. We wouldappreciate having your appraisal of Mr. Birney.Yours sincerely,J.B. Marshall,For Awards Committee,The Royal Society of Canada.dt
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Hew York 23, E*Y*August 23, 1952J .. or shall 1-3U*Awards Oorailtteo I Pilot 1-13-21-D-7'.ill© Loyal Cocioty of -aviada National Hooeareh Council,Ottawa, Ca .la\\Dear I2r iliral-u.il,iLI have your lottv-r of tho twenty-sixth concerning tho application of Mr* iJarlo Birney for a Govornaont Fellov.shlp enabling him to spend a yoar In Franco or Holland*I have only tho highest regard for Hr*:3Iroey, personally an: ifessienally* I have Imcnm his work as a writer from the beginning and in my capacity as critic and editor iiave Included Ma work gratefully In all of the several anthologies of oentoi porary Canadian writing w’llch I have editod, and bolievo, and have stated publicly that :Ir* Birney is ona of tlio finest poets Canada has produeed*I recommend slnceroly that Mr* Bimoy be>d this Fellows!ilp. The professional program* which tills would enable Mr* Blarney to fulfill wouldnot only be ef benefit to 7\ic profession but to Canada*I am,Yours no at sincerely,Ralph Gustafson
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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIAVANCOUVER, CANADADEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH 7 Sep 52Dear Ralph,Many many thanks for perjuring yourself to Marshall for me. It’s just a chance and I seize at straws now that I’m 48 and have been jt turned down by Guggenheim,Rockefeller,and all the rest of them. My uhiversity doesnt give sabbaticals so I seem condemned to teach till I’m 65--I should live so long—before I get a year off to write. Never had more than 3 months at a stretch free from teaching since I began it. This new Canadian thing isnt specifically designed for creative work, but it doesnt exactly exclude it,so am gitoing it a whirl.I have a novel that’s been gathering dust,in outline form,for a year now.Good to know you have another volume of verse coming out and I hope a short story collection too. Ryersons are bringing out a new lot of my verse ,probably this month;MBt my title for it was Damnation of Vancouver but the pieties of United '-hurch publishing interfered, so now it*s Trial of a City, a bastard MacLeish-Spender title if ever I saw one. However, CBC hasnt flinched and the major piece in the book,which is cast in radio dramatic verse form, will be produced by Andrew Allan on a Wed. Nite program Oct 8.1 dont suppose you can pick it up in New York,though. If you happen to,would appreciate yuuur reactions. Some extracts from it are coming out in the next number of Crawley’s Contemporary Verse, due out this month. I’ve asked ryersons to send you a copy of Trial of a City when it comes out.I’m working now on an anthology of Twentieth Century Canadian Verse(1900-50).Aimed at junior-senior matric & first year university levels,with a hope that this may also prove a popular k level for a paper-cover edition. However, with Ryersons handling it, it may fall with a dull thud on the market. So far they havent made me any report on permission fees,which will probably be terrific. I want to use your ’’Dedication”, if you dont object; I’ve always liked it,and have read it more than once to UBC audiences and over CBC.I’d like to use others but most of yours seem to me to present too many difficulties for the high-school reader;also I’m trying to represent a wide list of poets and,except for one or two "naturals" for high school like Pratt, I’m sticking to a single poem per poet.Lately I’ve been working on a few intentionally light verses in the hon^ I can get a sheaf and hurl them at the ^ew porker; well,I can always hope,and John Ciardi, whom I got to know in Utah this June, assured me it was just a knack,and a well-rewarded one. Do you know John? He * I were the visiting poets at the U. of Utah Writers Conference this summer. I had an excellent fortnight there; we shared a sorotiy house with Caroline Gordon,Elizabeth Enright and Peter Taylor. Brewster Ghiselin ran the show. I taught in the Fictio* and Poetry workshops.Earlier in the summer I had a week in Banff with the Canadian Library Conference and one in Toronto on some TV shows, all of which has temporarily taken away some of that bushed feeling I get living in this outpost of nowhere. Still, I keep coming back to it; it's a good place to live, but a frosty ilimate for a writer or any kind of an artist.Thanks again, Ralph. Hope our paths will cross before too long. You ought to work out some kind of West Coast junket. I* can always assure you the UBC auditoitum,several hundreds of audience, and at least half a hundred of honorarium if you’ll come and read poetry one noon-hour. We’ve built up .quite a poetry-listening habit around here. Dylan Thomas told me we frad the largest au&d'ences he got anywhere on this continent. 4_^c<
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2 Y/oat 67tii Street' V'* Tot*-' 23, tf.Y.Sept 13, 1952/Dear Earle,Ttost happy to have your letter and norm of yon.Eoxt bosi vo being with you onco again out I wuat one day so cl: you out and eliminate this typewriter. Have novor boon to tb* Coasts uu'X have only looked at tho B.C. ijountains with foot ] lantod in Alberta. That itaoellod no westward but I cover to co.-ploto tl.ue .lar^in. And your offer ofthe UBC auditorium is most nraoious. I'd like to take adva .ta„o oi it if y ./a t ou, j woul.. inourest# ierhaps next yoar. I*rt sort of being urged to do such things as a tie-up with y book of biert~o borioa If and w ion th» latter appears* Viking Press 13 still sittin on tho IIS (wishing It wore a novel) an-- tbey soInterested in the Canadian side of tho nar’ ot as well. M" but four of tho fourteen stories havo a;>pearou ovc. vie past cc\\ ..c of years and I*u anxious to corw.lt them before I begin llsowning the i2> piecemeal. As it ;.as _ to,,1c t. w.iolw B-.iwj.or out revising what had boon published In tho na ::asines. If I pursue this devil Compactness 1*11 bo son j telogra s.It* • ost Ivappy no'to that c nor volume Is coming from you. n . . any thanks for having a copy sent to ijo* I UiUill loo-; forvrard to it and to tho Tfodnosday llight on tlie air— t :ou^. it is alt or .das down bore trying to get Canadian stations. I find i-y no volume of verse still sitting on my desk— too : -aiy payee, uftor a v ear's oold storage, to be eliminated. I*d like to publish about tvro dozen pooris but I doubt if arjyone would cousv ^r that a book even if publishers woro interested in poetry which they are not. Jhe last few to appear wero in tho iuartorly dovlo'w of iterature and northern Review now has a ooaplo.by all :::oa is use nDodicatIon,: in your -Ventieth. Century Canadiay’ Verse if you wish. I*>u grateful for yo^ loyaTty'to fue poo l, Tl‘ you aio..* o to oend airy from the now book, please lot me know. It's a good idea alrolng at first yoar University levels. oC ill use ».zy ew bi.vuotiona anthology for a while also Ccj lan Accent. Saska t - Iso wanted tho latter.But of course Y Hover cculd induce tho publishers to luako It available in Canada. I had a dece, ttThawMf in leroival'3 ! lo ier . ookw for hodem Youth"— but that boob pro vou a hodge-podge and yod knows vr :at the -Quebec muolls now tldnk of poetry.I'u trying «o -alee .uyaeli. believe I can nanago to get to Europe roxt sprin •. If things turn out so that the Fellowship gets you t’ero vils avuxior, please lot me know where you wtlj be— or if you ev *r >ass through NYC.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER. CANADA6 Oct 52DEPARTMENT OP ENGLISHMy dear Ralph,Your recommendation was potent# Ottawa wired me I have a fellowship, to France. Unfortunately,the blethering Royal Soc. of C'an. is administering it,and have sent me a letter saying I j(J^l next month* They seem to think a professor can drop all hi3 courses* a month after term opens and just light out. My president has been on the phone today to Ottawa and has got them to compromise with January^ but I dont know if the university can find a replacement till May. However, they seem to w&nt to take it,so expect to go. May sail from this coast,but if it's from New York I hope I'll see you there on the way, if only for a moment.My book of verse came out last week—officially,next Sat*,so your copy should be with you anytime now*Do you feel as depressed as I do when I see the final cold commitment to print? I hope that book of stories comes out soon,though; if they're all like the ones you had in HR they’re good*Let me know if you see your way to Europe in spring. After Jan* my address, I suppose, will be care of Canadian Embassy,Paris; at least that's where I have to show up for my monthly cheques.Many many thanks for your share in all this, Ralph. And I hope the university here let's it happen.Sincerely,
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2 West 67th StreetNew York 23, N.Y.January 26, 1951].Dear Sarle,I have a friend In England, the publisher Max Reinhardt (recently did the Nonesuch Shakespeare). He writes me that he is coming over on a visit. He is an exceedingly cordial chap— personally, to writing, to Canada. Is your now novel tied up for English publication? Might I say that you have a IIS he might be interested In doing?for England, would you care to send me a copy of the pocket edition that I might let him have to read?Grlad to hear Toronto proved prosperous. If I go up I shall try for a hunk of the Government dollars.I've pushed to the end of Chap 9~ meaning half-way penultimately. But motivation is a bitch.Wasn't it hugely delightful that Hemingway came out of the jungle crashes with a bunch of bananas in one hand and a bottle of gin in the other?My best to the Birney family,Was Turvey ever done in England? If that is freeD
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THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER, CANADADEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH31 Jan 54Dear Ralph,Many thanks for keeping Turvey in mind. He was giventhe bum’s rush by at least half a dozen exalted London firms, several years back—’’too American for British ireaders’’, you know— but this year a friend of mine who runs a lit. agency has started pushing it around again, or at least said she was going to.Havent heard the results. Anyway, I’ve sent you a paperbaJsk copy,and by(Lall means lend it to your frind. is he any relation by the way to the German producer? He should, of course, check with my friend in London before going ahead, but let him read it first.’ Her address is Margaret Denis, Intereps Ltd., 15 New Row, St. Martin’s Lane,London W.C.2. She is a poet and so on,by the way, whom he may know by her maiden name, Margaret Crosland. Margaret is also ready to push my new novel around if ever I get it finished;but she is a good friend and wouldnt stand on agent’s ceremony at all if Rheinhardt wanted it, or Turvey.Glad you’re getting ahead with the revision. I’m bogged down in dreary freshman essays and the like.Ther should be an easier way of making a living.Wish you’d ask idem your friend also if he’s interested in a British revision of my anthology. It’s been getting good reviews in Canada, about fifteen of them now, apart from one stinkeroo on CBC Critically Speaking, by a gal# whose chief claim to literary fame is a Middle English Grammar, long out of print.She prefers Rolfe Humphries new paperback of ’’great new American poems”; in fact she seems to prefer American period.Keep at that book. All the best,
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