Purdy Collection

: Revised versions of earlier poems (part 2); Revised versions of earlier poems, with a few later poems also included. 228 pages.

: Rita, I Think; A short story that takes place during World War II. The narrator talks about his experiences working in an army base hospital and the patients he encounters. One in particular, a young man who has caught an unfortunate disease, catches the narrator's interest.

: Scrapbook; A scrapbook containing poems from various Canadian periodicals along with a number of letters from Lorne Pierce, B.K. Sandwell, Arthur Bourinot, and William Macnab Booth, telling Al Purdy of the acceptance Of his poem "Bubo Virginianus" for second prize in the 1950 A. Louisa Peacock and Macnab Awards. These letters also refer to the publication of certain poems or an appraisal of their worth. A number of reviews of Purdy's books and poetry are also included. Most of this material pertains to the period during the 1940's and 1950's.

: Shinplasters, Moustache Cups, and Pumpmakers; A biographical essay by A.W. Purdy which was accepted by the C.B.C.

: Tape 1 - Cariboo Horses; Al Purdy Reads his poetry; TOC: The Cariboo Horses 0:19; Malcolm Lowry 2:15; Postscript 3:58; The Madwoman on the Train 6:30; Thank God I'm Normal 9:03; Music on a Tombstone 10:07; Percy Lawson 11:38; Notes on Painting 14:02; Necropsy of Love 20:09; Policeman 21:39; Sunday Swim 23:04; Song of the Impermanent Husband 24:33; Portrait 27:32 [incomplete]; Engraved on a Tomb not read. Total Duration 27:47.

: Tape 10 - North of Summer; Al Purdy reads his poetry; TOC: Odysseus in Kikastan 0:00; When I sat Down to Play the Piano 3:45; What Can't Be Said 7:00; Still Life in a Tent 8:23; Listening 11:59; Dogsong 14:00; Two Hunters 15:40; Aspects 18:09; Eskimo Hunter 18:56; Dead Seal 20:20; Washday 22:35; Kikastan Communications 24:49; Total Duration 26:30

: Tape 11 - North of Summer; Al Purdy reads his poetry; TOC: South 0:09;Tent Rings 5:12; Track meet at Pangnirtung 7:25; What do the Birds Think? 8:43; H.B.C. Post 11:30; The Sculptors 12:51; At the Movies 15:14; The Country of the Young 17:45; Unfamiliar Terms and References 19:09; Total Duration 22:50.

: Tape 12 - The Crafte So Longe to Learne; Al Purdy reads his poetry; TOC: Short History of X County 0:18; Villanelle [Plus 1] 3:02; After the Rats 5:29; All About Pablum, Teachers, and Malcolm Lowry 6:48; Where the Moment Is 8:30; Canadian New Year Resolutions 9:43; Olympic Room 11:08; Driftwood Logs 12:04; From the Chin P'ing Mei 13:19; Rain Poem 14:12; For Oedi-Puss 14:59; Waiting for an Old Woman to Die 17:11; On the Decipherment of "Linear B" 18:28; Flashback 20:58; At Roblin Lake 21:24; Vestigia 23:41; If Birds Look In 24:31; At Evergreen Cemetery 25:23; Visitors 26:21; Passport 27:40; Love Song 28:42; Total Duration 29:59.

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