Editor's Fence

Editor's Fence OUR THIRTY-THIRD YEAR begins with an engaging variety of articles. Number 1 ranges from a consideration of Blake's influence on Bloomsbury to a glimpse into the literary workshop of Frederic Whyte (by his son, Henry). Number 2 offers a provocative comparison of Forster's Maurice and Pater's Marius and includes a selection of letters by Ford Madox Ford. Other essays flavor the fare with Lytton Strachey, W. H. Hudson and Sir Henry Newbolt. And of course our reviewers continue in their efforts to keep you up to date with the scholarship. Each year it seems more books compete for precious recognition. Indeed 1988 saw the American book empire publish 55,000 titles—university press sales alone gathering in $200 million. The last time I looked, ELT assets hadn't quite approached that figure. That lamentable fact aside, we begin a new feature in 1990. In addition to commissioned drawings, we are reprinting photographs from private collections , libraries, and the National Portrait Gallery, London. ELT aspires to captivate your eye as well as your mind. So that the credits for drawings and photographs don't intrude, they are listed in the endnotes of each article under Editor's Note. Besides the regular numbers appearing this September (33:4 being Essays on "Mark Rutherford"), in August we are publishing a separate issue in memory of our dear friend, Ian Fletcher. Special Series Number 4 includes articles by John Lucas, Malcolm Bradbury, Jan B. Gordon, John Stokes, J. B. Bullen, Bernard Bergonzi, Karl Beckson, Peter Stansky, Billie Inman, Bernard Richards, Ian Small, and John Goode. This exceptional 150-page volume will also highlight photographs and drawings—the whole accented by an enticing selection of Ian's poetry. Please reserve your copy in advance (Individuals $10.00; U.S./ Foreign Institutions $13.00/ $15.00). A reminder: ELT Press recently published J. M. Barrie: An Annotated Secondary Bibliography and Arthur Symons: A Bibliography. This fall Ian Fletcher's last, perhaps most remarkable book will appear, Herbert Home: Poet, Architect, Typographer, Art Historian. Our books should be in your university library. Please ask your librarian to order ELT Press titles. ?·> Announcement ?·> 1990 Thomas Hardy Conference: The 150th anniversary of Hardy's birth is in 1990. The British Thomas Hardy Society is organizing a Conference and Festival which will be held in Dorchester, 25 July—4 August 1990. Lecturers and seminar leaders include Simon Gatrell, Desmond Hawkins, Samuel Hynes, Rosmarie Morgan, Harold Orel, Norman Page, and Dennis Taylor. There will be a reception, coach tours of Hardy's Wessex, music programs, readings by Dame Peggy Ashcroft, an exhibition in the Dorset County Museum, and a visit to Max Gate. The fee is £45 for Society members, £60 for non-members, £30 for full-time students. Details on accommodations are provided with registration. Contact Prof. Robert Schweik, Dept. of English, State University College, Fredonia, NY 14063. ...