Southerly: "Shaw Neilson" Number. Another copy.

Component identifier:

Item 55

Content Summary:

Inserted is autograph letter 6pp, from Frank Neilson to J.K. Moir. Dated 11 June 1956, shortly after the appearance of the magazine; the writer is highly critical of much of the contents. He dislikes the editing but concedes R.G. Howarth's article "the best copy in the lot" and describes H.J. Oliver's writing as "old womanish". He regrets that more use was not made of material which he supplied: photographs of family interest, specimens of prose writing, unpublished manuscripts, etc. and is disappointed that the poem Florence Case did not appear. This he describes as "a delightful little gem". The "Sadie" extract is referred to; the entry in the old notebooks is "a mare's nest". Writes: "There was no such person known by me or any member of the family. John often tried writing such things as "Sadie", "Marion's Child" and weird things about death and funerals. He admired Poe's horror stories and de Maupassant's terror tales, so he practised some grotesque poems himself. There was no such person as 'Marion's Child' or sister.....it was only John's imagination." He notes that one of his own drawings to illustrate When Are the Angels Nearest was not used, although the drawing had been sent to the block-makers.

Tipped in is original photograph of Frank Neilson, autographed and inscribed to J.K. Moir.

In quarter-morocco, over original wrappers.

Names:

John Shaw Neilson

Access and use