Collection Summary
Seymour-Smith, Martin,
1928-1998
Martin Seymour-Smith
Collection
1942-1967,
undated
Manuscript Collection
MS-03793
2 boxes (0.84 linear feet)
Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin
This collection of English poet and
literary critic Martin Seymour-Smith consists of approximately equal amounts of manuscripts
of his poetry and incoming
correspondence.
English
Access:
Open for research.
Researchers
must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials Use Policy before using
archival materials.
Use Policies:
Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information
that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers
are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living
individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals may have
legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may
arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed
highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of
Texas at Austin assume no responsibility.
Preferred Citation
Martin Seymour-Smith Collection (Manuscript Collection MS-03793). Harry Ransom Center, The
University of Texas at
Austin.
Processed by:
Joan Sibley and Richard Workman, 2018
Note:
This finding aid replicates and replaces information previously available only in a card
catalog. Please see the explanatory note at the end of this finding aid for information
regarding the arrangement of the manuscripts as well as the abbreviations commonly used in
descriptions.
Container List
Works:
1.1
Untitled poem, The house of love…, Tms, 1 page, undated
1.1
Untitled poem, I am the lost mountaineer…, Tms with handwritten emendations,
1 page, March 1944. Original title, Apollo, deleted.
1.1
Untitled poem, The woman of autumn, Ams, 1 page, undated
1.1
Unidentified short story, Ams / incomplete with handwritten revisions, 26
pages, undated
1.1
The administrators (poem), 2 Ams / drafts, one with handwritten revisions, 1
page each; 2 Tms / drafts with handwritten revisions, one signed, 1 page, 2 pages, 3
August 1961
1.1
Advice to vermin (poem), Ams with handwritten emendations, 1 page,
1943
1.1
After the emission (poem), Ams, 1 page, 1943
1.13
The amazing bee (poem), Tms, 1 page, February 1945. Written with this: The
sentry.
1.1
The answer (poem), 3 Ams / drafts with handwritten revisions, 2 pages, 5
September 1962
1.1
The birds (poem), Tccms, 1 page, undated
1.1
Blitzenkrieger (poem), signed Ams with handwritten emendations, 5 pages; Tms
with handwritten emendations, 5 pages; Tccms with handwritten emendations, 5 pages, 17
May 1958
1.1
The bone (poem), Tms, 1 page, February 1944
1.1
The cellar (poem) 2 Ams / drafts with handwritten revisions, 2 pages, 3
pages; 1 Tms, 2 pages, 23-25 September 1963
1.1
Christmas day (poem), Tms, 1 page, 20 December 1946
1.1
Commentary (poem), Tms, 1 page, April 1943. Written with this:
Misery.
1.2
Commentary for his edition of Shakespeare’s sonnets, 2 Tccms / incomplete, 73
pages, 19 pages, undated
1.3
The dead lover (poem), Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page,
undated
1.3
The deciders (poem), Tms with handwritten revisions, 2 pages; Tccms with
handwritten revisions, 1 page, June 1962
1.9
Elegy (poem), Tms, 1 page, March 1945. Written with this: Lust.
1.3
Employment problem (poem), Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page,
undated
1.3
The execution (poem), Tms and Tccms with handwritten revisions, 1 page each,
1958
1.3
The fantastic cemetery (poem), Tms, 1 page, March 1945
1.4
A feeling for the English (short story), Tms, 41 pages, approximately
1951
1.3
La fordada (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.3
Forthcoming attractions (poem), Ams with handwritten emendations, 1 page,
1954
1.3
Fortunemaster (poem), Tms, 1 page, 1952
1.3
Found on a building site (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.3
The gipsies (poem), Tms, 1 page, March 1943
1.3
Green wall my grave (poem), Tms, 1 page, 1946
1.5
He came to visit me (poem), Tms, 1 page, 1945
1.5
History lesson / also titled Chessman (poem), 4 Ams / drafts and workings,
one signed, 7 pages; 1 Tms / draft with handwritten revisions, 1 page; 1 Tccms, 1
page, 15 June 1961
1.8
I shot the general (short story), Tms, 20 pages, approximately
1951
1.6
I will have nothing to do with you whatsoever (poem), 2 Ams with handwritten
revisions, 1 page, 2 pages; 2 Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page each; Tccms, 1
page, 3 July 1963
1.6
Imagined child (poem), 2 Tms, 1 page each, 1948
1.6
In the market place (poem), Ams with handwritten revisions, 1 page; 2 Tms
with handwritten revisions, 1 page each, 17 October 1962
1.6
The infant man (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.7
Introduction for his edition of Shakespeare’s sonnets, signed A and Tms with
handwritten revisions, 42 pages; Tccms, 39 pages, 1962
1.6
The invitation (poem), Ams with handwritten revisions, 1 page, undated.
Written on verso: Discarded draft of untitled poem.
1.6
A journey remembered (poem), 4 Ams / workings, 5 pages; Tms with handwritten
revisions and initialed note, 1 page, approximately 1949-1951
1.10
Laura Riding (non-fiction), Ams / draft with handwritten revisions,
approximately 130 pages, approximately 1955. Included with this: 5 Tms pages of
chapter VI with signed handwritten note on first page.
1.9
Living by the river (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.9
Lust (poem), Tms, 1 page, March 1945. Written with this: Elegy.
1.9
The man from the ministry (essay), Tccms with handwritten emendations, 22
pages, 1962
1.9
The map (poem), 2 Ams with handwritten revisions, one signed, 1 page each; 2
Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page each; Tccms, 1 page, 2 July 1962
1.1
Misery (poem), Tms, 1 page, April 1943. Written with this:
Commentary.
1.9
Mistral (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.9
The months of birds (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.9
My sentinels the birds (poem), signed Tms, 1 page, undated
1.9
No scenery but death in the day of the ape (poem), Tccms, 1 page, December
1944
1.9
The northern monster (poem), Tms, 1 page, 1956
1.9
An observation for unverifiable reconsideration in a game perhaps (poem), 2
Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page each, September 1962
1.9
Old women against the wind (poem), Tms, 1 page, December 1944
1.9
Out of what winter’s agony (poem), Tms, 1 page, March 1944
1.11
Pathetique (poem), 4 Ams / drafts, 3 with handwritten revisions, 1 signed, 1
page each, 30 August 1962
1.11
Perseus to Andromeda (poem), 8 Ams / drafts and workings, 1 page each; 2 Tms
with handwritten revisions, 1 page each, 1-26 June 1958
1.11
Pinchbeck (poem), 5 Ams / drafts with handwritten revisions, 1 signed, 3
initialed, 1 page each; 2 Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page each; Tccms with
handwritten revisions, 1 page, 28-31 January 1963
1.11
Poetry jottings, 2 small signed Ams notebooks, undated. Contains also
miscellaneous notes.
1.11
Poor fatso (poem), signed Ams / draft with heavy handwritten revisions, 2
pages; 2 Tms / drafts with handwritten revisions, 1 page each; Tccms, 1 page, 11 May
1961
1.11
Prelude (poem), Tms, 1 page, 1950
1.11
The prime minister / also titled The last chance (poem), Ams / signed drafts
and workings, 20 pages; Tccms with handwritten revisions, 3 pages, May 21 no
year
1.11
Problem in application (poem), Ams / workings, 1 page, undated
1.11
The punishment (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.11
Quean leer (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.12
The resurrection (poem), Tms, 1 page, December 1944
1.12
Review of An introduction to Shakespeare’s sonnets, for the use of historians
and others by J. Dover Wilson, Tms with handwritten revisions, 4 pages, December 1963.
For BBC European Service.
1.12
Reviews, Ams / drafts with handwritten revisions, some signed, 64 pages in
notebook, 1963. Includes 2 drafts of letters to the editor of unidentified
periodical.
1.12
Robin Hood and history (essay), Tms with heavy handwritten revisions and
handwritten bibliography, 22 pages, 1952. Included with this: Ams / notes, 13
pages.
1.13
Sad salute (poem), Tms with handwritten emendations, 1 page, March
1944
1.13
Saxelby (poem), 2 Ams / drafts with handwritten revisions, 1 page each, 19
October 1962. One written on verso of incomplete draft of Three cheers.
1.13
The scene and the ghost (poem), Tccms, 1 page, undated
1.13
The sentence (poem), 4 Ams / drafts with handwritten revisions, 1 page each;
Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page, 1 November 1962
1.13
The sentry (poem), Tms, 1 page; Tccms, 1 page, February 1945. Written with
this: The amazing bee.
1.13
The ship (poem), Tms with handwritten note, 1 page, October 1942
1.13
The stain of heaven (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.13
Sunday morning walk (poem), Tms with handwritten emendations, 1 page,
undated
1.14
Tea with Miss Stockport (poem), 2 Ams / early draft fragments, 1 page each;
Tms with handwritten revisions, 3 pages, 11-12 June 1958
1.14
Three satires (poem), Ams / fragment with handwritten revisions and initialed
note, 1 page, 1957
1.14
The timeless year (poem), Tms, 4 pages, March 1945
1.14
To all watchers over public morality (poem), Ams / workings, 1 page; Tms with
handwritten emendations, 1 page; Tccms, 1 page, 2 October 1961
1.14
To passers-by (poem), signed Ams with handwritten emendations, 1 page; Ams /
draft with handwritten revisions, 2 pages; Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page;
Tms, 1 page, 1-2 June 1958
1.14
The trap of day (poem), Tms, 1 page, March 1945
1.14
The traveler (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.14
A trial in a dream (poem), Tms, 1 page, 1952
1.14
The victim (poem), Ams / draft with handwritten revisions and handwritten
initialed note, 1 page, undated
1.14
The visitor (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
1.14
What schoolmasters say (poem), Tms, 1 page, undated
2.1
Who is Sylvia? (short story), Tms, 41 pages, approximately 1951
1.14
The wind blows leaves-- (poem), Tms with handwritten revisions, 1 page,
undated
Recipient:
2.2
Unidentified author Jan. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 1 July
1966.
2.2
Unidentified author John. 2 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 27 June 1961.
Letterhead: Encounter.
2.2
Unidentified author Tom S. 2 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 17 November 1965
and 26 January 1966.
2.2
Bly, Robert. 3 ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 14 September 1964, 29 April and
19 July 1965.
2.2
Bold, Alan Norman, 1943- . 2 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 11 August and 14
September 1965.
2.2
Books of the Month. TLS Heather Malinska to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 19 March
1962.
2.2
Brown, George Mackay. 2 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 26 April and 7 October
1965.
2.2
Bryant, Arthur, Sir, 1899- . TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 24 July
1953
2.2
Carroll, Donald. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 24 November 1965.
2.2
Cohen, J. M. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 4 October 1964.
2.2
Creeley, Robert, 1922- . 2 ALS, 6 TLS Bob to Seymour-Smith, Martin,
1964-1966.
2.2
Cronin, Tony. ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 8 January 1957.
2.3
Davie, Donald. 3 ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 23 November and 19 December
1956, 5 February 1957. Enclosed with 23 November 1956 letter: Tms / copy of excerpt of
translation from the Polish.
2.3
Dobrée, Bonamy, 1891- . TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 26 March
1956.
2.3
Encounter. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 7 May 1957. Enclosed with this: TL /
copy Seymour-Smith to Stephen Spender re article for Encounter, 5 May
1957.
2.3
Ewart, Gavin B., 1916- . 5 ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin,
1965-1966.
2.3
Finlay, Ian Hamilton. 3 ALS, 3 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 1965-1966,
undated.
2.3
Fradin, B. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 3 July 1952.
2.3
Fulton, Robin. ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 25 January 1966.
2.3
Graves, Robert, 1895- . 2 ALS, 1 Christmas card to Seymour-Smith, Martin,
Christmas 1951, 1 September and 5 November 1955.
2.3
Grubb, Frederick. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 15 September
1965.
2.3
Gunn, Thom. ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 10 December 1954.
2.3
Hinde, Thomas, 1926- . ANS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 9 November 1965.
2.3
Hogg, Quintin. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 8 March 1967.
2.3
Horder, John. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 14 January 1965.
2.4
Jennings, Elizabeth, 1926- . 2 ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 18 September
1952, undated.
2.4
Levin, Bernard S. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 23 August 1956.
2.4
Lindsay, John Maurice, 1918- . 3 ALS, 1 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 30 July
and 11 September 1965, 22 March 1966, undated.
2.4
Macleod, Joseph Todd Gordon, 1903- . TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 20 January
1966.
2.4
Madge, Charles, 1912- . 2 ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 15 March and 25
October 1964.
2.4
Methuen & Co. Ltd. TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 29 June
1961.
2.5-6
Nye, Robert. 9 ALS, 1 AL, 19 TLS, 12 TLS / incomplete, 1 TL, 16 APCS, 1 APCI,
1 APC, 5 TPCS, 1 TPC to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 1958-1965, undated. Some directed to
Janet Seymour-Smith.
2.7
Owen, Harold, 1872- . 3 ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 12 October 1964, 6 and
25 November 1965.
2.7
Read, Herbert Edward, Sir, 1893-1968. 4 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin,
1966-1967.
2.7
The Regency Institute. TLS Harold Herd (director) to Seymour-Smith, Martin,
29 November 1961.
2.7
Smith, Gavin C. ALS, TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 17 July 1965,
undated.
2.7
Spender, Stephen, 1909- . ALS, Telegram to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 6 May 1957,
26 October no year. Included with these: Criticism of article by Seymour-Smith on Roy
Campbell, published later in October 1957 issue of Encounter.
2.7
Trocchi, Alexander, 1925- . TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin, 19 July 1965.
Enclosed with this: Mimeo announcement.
2.7
Turnbull, Gael Ludin, 1928- . 5 ALS, 1 TLS, 1 Christmas booklet to
Seymour-Smith, Martin, 1964-1966, undated.
2.7
Williams, Hugo Mordaunt, 1942- . ALS to Seymour-Smith, Martin,
undated.
2.8
Wright, David John Murray, 1920- . 19 TLS to Seymour-Smith, Martin,
1962-1966, undated. Enclosures.
Miscellaneous:
2.9
Finlay, Ian Hamilton. TLS to unidentified recipient Christopher, 29 January
no year.
2.9
Fraser, George Sutherland, 1915- . Poem by André Breton, Tms, 1 page,
undated.
2.9
Fraser, George Sutherland, 1915- . The taken town, Tms, 2 pages,
undated.
2.9
Graves, Robert, 1895- . ALS to Seymour-Smith, Janet de Glanville,
undated.
2.9
Nye, Robert Thomas, 1939- . 2 ALS, 1 TLS, 3 APCS, 1 TPCS to Seymour-Smith,
Janet de Glanville, 1964-1965, undated.
2.9
Seymour-Smith, Martin, 1928- . Sonnets by William Shakespeare, A and Tccms /
miscellaneous pages, 21 pages, undated.