Correspondence, P.K. Page

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May 88, 1943Dear Patricia Page,Many thanks for your letter. I'dbe glad to see poems other than DESIRING ONLY If you like to send them along. Laughlin has had the MS, however, andseemed in a hurry set it up-- so your poem may be in type. Anyway, send the newStuff� something that would Occupy abouttthe same space.Glad you were interested in "Voices"/ My inclination, too, id s monopoly for the younger bunch. But in all fairness, some of our faults are just as egregious as theolder boys are In their way, And I think to expunge them vith a blot of the critical thumb is carrying paper-rationing too far.However,, the opportunities that come my way will be for the newest stuff to dispose of! Earle- Birney had noting for me, D Livesay didn't respond, Anne Marriot's new stuff seemed all hyphens, N.Shaw I'm unsure about. The Herald Tribune column after a few lines, was all quotes. "Preview"'s the best thing In Canada-- i look forward to It.All best wishes,
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2063 Victoria Street, Apt. 2,Montreal, Quebec.May 27/43Dear Ralph Gustafson,Thanks for your letter. It was interesting to hear why Birney and the others were not in "Voices". Certainly it is true of Anne's recent work. No words seem to have any individual meaning when they are all linked together by hyphens. You get a pictorial impressionof a freight train and are simply carried forward with no sense of the scenery or passengers.Thanks for the kind words re Preview. It's always good to hear people enjoy it.More are three possible substitutes for Desiring Only if you approve and provided its not too late, Goodluck with the book. I am anxious to see it.Sincerely,PK Page
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June 1, 1943Dear Patricia Page,Many thanks for sending along the three poems. I liked each, but particularly JOURNEY. I shall send this to New Directions Press asking them to substitute It tor DESIRING ONLY. I am unsure, however, whether It will be In time.I havent dates nor details from them yet, but as accurately as I can judge at the present, i expect to be able to pay $1.15 per poem.I'm enclosing TYPISTS and WAKING All good wishes,Sincerely,
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October 15, 194SDear Patricia Page,My prose anthology is stillunder fire-though I have about finished it. Could I include your LEISURE CLASS which I saw in "Preview 12"? What royaltiesthere are will of course be divided among contributors.I seem to remember a storv of yours called the GREEN PARROT? Could I see that? � though LEISURE CLASS is what I want, If it is agreeable to you.Sincerely,
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NEW ADDRESS:1178 Mountain Street,Apt. 4,Montreal, Canada.October 20, 1943.Dear Ralph Gustafson,If you think Leisure Class worth including,by all means, use it. I have a certain hesitation about it--did have when it appeared in Preview--because of itsfragmentary quality.I am enclosing a copy of the Green Bird andcannot help but feel it is the better of the two. But you are judge.When do you expect the anthology out? Bestwishesfor it.Sincerely,PK PAGE
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November 19, 1943Dear Patricia Page,Many thanks for sending along the GREEN BIRD, which I have included in my typescript.The MS awaits only a foreword and then it goes to England. It is difficult to say when it will appear. The verse Anthology was held up by both the paper shortage and the lack of printers, binders, etc. But I M hoping by next autumn.The Nee Directions anthology should be along shortly.With best wishes, and thanks for your cooperation.Sincerely,Ralph Gustafson
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70 Central Park West Hew York, N.Y.January 4, 1944Dear Patricia Page,i enclose my cheque for @2.00 in payment of your poem, JOURNEY, which I included in my "Little Anthology of Canadian Poets", published by New Directions Press. I have had a copy forwarded to you.Many thanks for your cooperation and bestwishes,Sincerely,
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908 Heywood Avenue, Victoria, B.C.January 19, 1945.Dear Mr. Gustafson:See how I get around: Incredible, isn't it?I wonder if you could tell me how to go about submitting work to Her Directions? May as well aim high as anywhere else, say I. You, having done it and succeeded, ought to know. I've not seen the book yet, but I did see the New Directions ad for it and it looked wonderful. Congrat-ulations.Also what news of the Penguin Prose? Surely it aught to be along sometime now. I am most anxious to see it.Sincerely, PK Page
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Now York CityJanuary 25, 1945Dear Patricia Page,Many thanks for your note. I was surprised to see that it came front British Columbia. Are you there permanently now?I am not certain which publisher you speak of. My own book of poems FLIGHT INTO DARKNESS is published by Pantheon Books. It is advertised by Jonathan David Co. In Canada as he Is agent there. He happens also to be agent for New Directions Press who did my Little Anthology of Cdn Poetry.I'm sure the chances of publication for your poetry with New Directions would be excellent, if you care to write to James Laughlin who is head of New Directions saying I suggested doing so, I would be glad. The firm is in New York City (at 67 West 44th Street) but Laughlln himself spends most of his time in the west. His address is: Alta Lodge, Alta, Utah. Post Office: Sandy, Utah.The Penguin Prose Anthology, CANADIAN ACCENT, I understand, Is out in England. I cabled them this week about the Canadian edition which will probably be done In Toronto as before with the poetry anthology. As soon as I have copies I shall send one along.I have "Unit of 5"� and look forward to reading you therein. What of the Preview Anthology? I had lunch with Patrick Anderson and A.J.M.Smith recently, and they told me of your novel� which I have ordered.Best luck with New Directions.Sincerely,Ralph Gustafson
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908 Heywood Avenue, Victoria, B.C.January 31, 1945.Dear Ralph Gustafson,I shudder to think you know of my dreadful novel. It was mean of whoever told you! Except I suppose I do lay myself open to that kind of thing by being fool enough to publish anything I disown�even under a nom de plume. Please, for God's sake, remember that I wrote it years ago�one foot practically in the womb.Thanks for the help about New Directions. I have now got to the point of completing the typing of the US and have- gone quite luke warm on the whole project. It seems a scattered MS�too many words, not enough meaning. In fact right now I am very disgusted with my work. There is not enough rhythmical variety. To add to it all I am in Victoria, where there is not the game keenness shown over work that there is in Montreal. How long I shell be here, I don't know. But some time, I expect.How did you have lunch with Patrick and Art? Were trey both in N.Y or you and Art in Montreal?I don't know what has happened to the Preview Anthology. The last 1 heard it was ready to be submitted�whether it went and is being considered or what goes on, I've no idea.Thanks again for your information and allowing me to use yourname.Sincerely,PK Page
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165 lines-- 12 words a line-- 1,980 words @ 1/4: $4.95New York, N.Y. August 18, 1945908 Heywood Ave Victoria, B.C.Dear Patricia Page,I enclos my cheque for $5.00 in payment of your contribution, "The Green Bird", to CANADIAN ACCENT� with many thanks for your cooperation. I'M also sending here a copy of the English edition which has just arrived. I am hoping that an American publication will appear later this year. Your MSS is also enclosed.Penguin's has asked me to do a CDN ACCENT II, probably for publication in England next year and later In America. At some time, would you like to send along some short stories and/or poems that are not copyrighted?- which I could consider? The rate I offer, I realize, is embarrassingly low and I amn hoping to do better, but meanwhile exchange from England is half.I recently did a pamphlet on Poetry and Canada directed toward the general reader in the services. His springboard was a sentence of yours� I thought you might like to see my exceptions! I hope Laughlin of New Directions came through with your MSS as he should do?I understand "Portage" Is to appear in Montreal this autumn. Any news of the Preview Anthology?With best wishes,Sincerely,

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