C.J. Dennis's work book for The Glugs of Gosh

Component identifier:

Item 59

Content Summary:

An exercise book in which the author has written out his plan for the book, and the titles of the various verse sequences. The pages are headed with the titles which to 'The Seer' are in conformity with the printing of the verses in the book. From then on to the end there are variations. 'Emily Ann' was to have been 'Emily Lou', and 'The Little Red Dog' was originally titled 'The Little Blue Wren'. The 'Introduction' varies from the printed version:

'If you'd really like to meet a Glug

Just pluck three hairs from a rat-skin rug,

Blow one to the East, and one to the West,

And one to the South and swallow the rest

And if someone declares 'tis the act of a fool...'

Some of the pages have the word 'written' scrawled across them, so evidently the poet had completed that set of verses. All the writing is in pencil, and there are some annotations throughout the book, which are relevant to the contents. One note: 'Folk getting tired of Swank - threat of Oggs - (Political reference - coalition).'

Together with long autograph letter from Hal Gye to Chaplin '...For some quick reason he must have seen the forthcoming series of verses as a whole, and being in a good mood about it, wrote the whole scheme down, and having done it said, 'Ah! That's done!. ...You will notice with what pleasure the word 'written' is banged across those which he had written - 'thank God that's done'. The Glugs was a picnic book for both of us; 'Den' had a lot of fun writing it, and I loved illustrating it...'

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased from Harry Chaplin in 1981.

Names:

Chaplin, Harry F.

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