[Patric Dickinson, poet, translator and broadcaster.] Copy of his poetry collection 'The Cold Universe', inscribed to his mistress Sarah Hamilton, with a few explanatory annotations and an Autograph Card Signed from him 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 his 1965 autobiography 'The Good Minute' and 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 (His extraordinary correspondence with her, including 171 original and mostly-unpublished poems, 474 autograph letters and 349 post cards, is offered separately).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 47pp, 8vo. In dustwrapper printed in purple designed by Enid Marx. In fair condition, aged and a little discoloured, in worn and aged dustwrapper. Inscribed in pencil on front free endpaper 'S E H / P D'. Four of the poems have pencil annotation. Accompanying the item is an plain white card without address or stamp, covered with writing by PD on both sides. Dated 'Tues / 19th' from '38 Ch[urch] Sq[uare] Rye.' and signed 'P., with private code in Greek characters.' He begins by discussing Kipling's use of the word 'dwine' and then says: 'I wonder if you remember Bob Thornton, my S. M @ the Royal Court - so long ago? Well, you wont remember, but how I do; how, between 'houses', he brought into my dressing -room a sweet girl (I cant remember even if she was blond or brunette) & said 'We're going to be married' Then & there I wrote an Epithalamion for them, on the back of some maniac's letter AND 20 years later they're still married - (Oh Joy!) & have 3 children d. s. d. approx 17 - 15 - 12 & he has just rung up & wants to give her The Good Minute as a surprise anniversary present!' They are going to visit him at Rye and he invites her to come too. He states that she will find the poem in This Cold Universe (it is there on p.30).