A History of the Anglo-American Private Presses in Europe 1920-1935

FAIN: FA-10210-70

Hugh Ford
College of New Jersey (Ewing, NJ 08628-0718)

History of Anglo-American private presses in Europe, 1920-35--founding of such presses, their purpose, organization and publications. Role of presses in encouraging, directing and publishing works of many influential American and European authors (among others, Hemingway, Pond, Beckett, Joyce, MacLeish, Crane). Private presses functioned as "literary exchanges" where writers from many nations developed and refined their ideas and art; provided the "literary cross-fertilization" which has left its mark on contemporary writing in America, England and France. Much material, including manuscripts, letters, accounts, and copies of limited editions, in hands of private collectors, former publishers and writers, both in US and abroad. Fellow's previous work on These Were the Hours (1969), a history of the Hours Major Press of the period, written in collaboration with its owner, poet Nancy Cunard, has given him valuable contacts and experience.