[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of 'Aristophanes Against War / The Acharnians / The Peace - Lysistrata / Translated by Patric Dickinson', inscribed to his mistress Sarah Hamilton, with Autograph Card Signed to her.

Patric Dickinson has not received his due. A self-styled ‘poet and impresario of poetry’, Dickinson occupied a central position in the cultural landscape of post-war Britain. As an editor and broadcaster he worked with poets such as Dylan Thomas, Cecil Day Lewis and Roy Campbell, actresses Flora Robson, Peggy Ashcroft and Jill Balcon, and actors Robert Donat, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud. See John Mole’s obituary in the Independent, 31 January 1994. From the papers of Dickinson’s mistress Sarah Emmeline Hamilton. (His extraordinary correspondence with her, including 171 original and mostly-unpublished poems, 474 autograph letters and 349 post cards, is offered separately). The present item is xviii + 157 + [1]pp, 8vo. In tawny cloth in decorative dustwrapper in blue and rust. In good condition, lightly aged, in worn and stained dustwrapper. Inscribed on front free endpaper 'For Sarah / with my love . / Patric .' Loosely inserted is a plain white card, with writing on both sides in pencil by PD (no address or stamp). Addressed to 'Sarah, darling one,' and signed 'P.' The card is undated, but would appear to concern PD's 1982 collection 'A Rift in Time', which was filled with poems about her. Begins: 'I cant stop from sending you your sweet OWN copy before Wednesday. I will be bringing another, when we come. This one is a bit special, top sort of secret - see? I enclose, for you to see, a letter from John Rice - it shows I've done something, & in particular to keep these poems as poems - my aim.' He mentions his longing for her, a line from Auden, and a children's poetry competition he is judging ('good this year') before stating: 'Such love comes your way thank you for this book - I wouldnt have written it but for ['SE' [Sarah Emmeline] followed by 'P A' in Greek characters, his pet name for her being 'Pallas Athene'] & I love her till the end of doom.' Postscript: 'Keep this under-book under your pillow darling one. I'll bring the other copy w. me.' Also loosely inserted is a newspaper cutting from The Times, 5 September 1964, headed 'Notes on Broadcasting / Holiday from Television / From Our Special Correspondence', with reference to 'Mr. Patric Dickinson, one of the most dedicated of living poets' and another to how 'the Home Service found room for Time for Verse conducted with such grace and percipience by Mr. Patric Dickinson'