London: Heinemann, (1960). First edition of Plath’s first regularly published book. Presentation copy, inscribed by Plath on the front free endpaper: “For Luke & Cynthia / with love – / Sylvia / April 13, 1961.” A highly important association copy, rich in personal interest and history: E. Lucas (Luke) Myers, an aspiring writer from Tennessee, was intimately connected to Ted Hughes and Plath. Plath met Luke Myers at Cambridge, where she and Myers were studying, and admired his poetry and fiction. In her journal entry for February 25, 1956, she wrote: “I have learned something from E. Lucas Meyers (sic) although he does not know me and will never know I’ve learned it. His poetry is great, big, moving through technique and discipline to master it and bend it supple to his will. There is a brilliant joy, there, too, almost of an athlete, running, using all the divine flexions of his muscles in the act. Luke writes alone, much. He is serious about it; he does not talk much about it. This is the way.” – Sylvia Plath, The Journals (London: Faber & Faber, 2000), p. 207. On March 3, Plath commented on Myers’ fiction: “A chapter – story..... More
London: Rainbow Press, 1971. First edition. One of 300 numbered copies printed by Will and Sebastian Carter at the Rampant Lions Press on Hodgkinson hand-made paper (out of a total edition of 400). Spine ends trifle rubbed, otherwise a fine copy. Narrow 4to, quarter leather and patterned paper over boards, t.e.g., publisher's slipcase. More