The Friends of Coleridge Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772-1834 December 2015 Newsletter www.friendsofcoleridge.co m ‘Kubla Khan’ Bicentenary 2016 Next year, 2016, marks the bicentenary of the publication of Kubla Khan, and The Friends plan to mark this by holding a series of events which are intended to bring the figure of Coleridge the writer before as wide an audience as possible. Coleridge himself and the Victorian reading public would have been astonished at the way in which Kubla Khan has established itself in modern times as his best known poem, or at least, his best known title. During the 19th century it was Christabel, or Love which were seen as Coleridge’s most characteristic productions. He himself, it seems, having ‘The Source of the Sacred River’ by Albert Goodwin first presented Kubla Khan to coming year and adding value to what they do there. Here are the reading public as a sort of just some of our plans: a Kubla Khan-themed art exhibition at psychological curiosity took the Cottage; a series of talks on Coleridge at the Cottage; an remarkably little interest in illustrated booklet on Kubla Khan, aimed at new and casual it, hardly changing the text as well as more experienced readers; a series of contempo- at all after it was first pub- rary poetry readings at the Cottage; ‘Walking with Coleridge’ lished, whereas he could not leaflets; and a poetry competition using Kubla Khan as a leave the text of The Rime of stimulus, aimed at local schools and colleges. We hope by the the Ancient Mariner alone, end of the year that a lot more people have begun to be aware Illustration to‘Kubla Khan’ by tinkering with it throughout of what Coleridge has to offer the modern reader. Patten Wilson 1898 his life. Of course 1816 was a very important year for Coleridge in Kubla Khan definitely took other ways. On the 15 April he took up residence with the second billing when it first appeared. The Christabel volume, Gillmans in Highgate and started the final phase of his life as it was titled, was issued in February 1816 and appeared in the as a writer and cultural force, publishing The Statesman’s shops on 25 May. For Coleridge’s first book of published verse Manual and the first of his Lay Sermons before the end of since 1803, it was a slim volume indeed, a somewhat inauspi- the year. And it was in Highgate on 31 October this year that cious looking octavo, consisting of 8 pages of introductory Richard Holmes, speaking at the combined Coleridge and matter and only 64 pages of verse. It was published by John Lamb day, reminded us of the importance of the Gillman con- Murray. Christabel takes up the first 50 pages, even though it nection in 1816. He suggested republishing some out-of-print was of course unfinished. It was followed by the two much and out-of-copyright texts as a way of marking the bicente- shorter poems: Kubla Khan, also presented as ‘a fragment’, nary of the beginning of a new era in Coleridge’s life and career. and The Pains of Sleep. All three works had been written years This is something to think about for the future. Meanwhile, we before. are confident that as one who through his 1979 biography has Why Kubla Khan has become Coleridge’s ‘signature’ poem introduced Coleridge to more new readers and students than among non-professional readers in modern times is a study anyone else, and who has been a loyal supporter of the Friends, in itself. But ours is not to reason why, but rather to seize the he would approve of our current plans for next year. opportunity in whatever ways we can. These include work- Justin Shepherd, Chair of the Friends of Coleridge ing with the National Trust at the Cottage throughout the 2 Friends of Coleridge Newsletter December 2015 Auction of Coleridge items, Christie’s New York, 8 December James Vigus writes: The Davidson collection of Coleridge texts is outstanding in both quality and range. Coleridge was not only a poet but also a playwright, translator, and prolific writer on literary, philosophical, religious and political topics. All these fields are richly represented here. This collection of 35 lots boasts fresh manuscript material, including a late letter to Charles Lamb with an unpublished postscript. Coleridge delighted in writing notes in friends’ copies of his own books: a wonderful example here is Sophia Raby Gillman’s long-lost copy of Coleridge’s Aids to Reflection (right), an item of great importance to scholarship. He directs Sophia to a couple of pages in which ‘will be found my Creed as a Christian digested in Seven Articles.’ Other lots feature Coleridge’s handwritten revisions to his own poems; and there are copies of books owned by Coleridge, one delicious highlight being the edition of Rabelais that Coleridge annotated in preparation for his lecture on wit and humour in 1818. There is an opportunity to acquire a rare first Aids to Reflection edition of Coleridge’s early and politically radical newspaper, The Watchman. Also from the mid-1790s is a very scarce uncut copy of The Plot Discovered; or An Address to the People, Against Ministerial Treason, the format of which reveals much about the fast-changing political scene when Pitt’s ‘gagging acts’ curbed free speech. By 1809, when Coleridge embarked on The Friend, another pre- carious self-published periodical, he had ceased to believe in the efficacy of address- ing ‘the people’, preferring instead a more foundational approach to the principles of morality and legislation. The complete set of The Friend is an especially desirable lot. Perhaps the most remarkable item of all is Coleridge’s extensively annotated copy of his 1817 collection Sibylline Leaves (left) containing, in addition to much else, Coleridge’s handwritten revisions to his poetic masterpiece, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Sibylline Leaves To view the full catalogue visit: www.friendsofcoleridge.com/auction-of-coleridge-items-christies-new-york-december-8th New music: Howard Skempton, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Howard Skempton: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner 4th December, CBSO Centre, Birmingham 5th December, Wigmore Hall, London The world and London premiere performances of British composer Howard Skempton’s setting of Coleridge’s masterpiece The Rime of the Ancient Mariner will be held at the CBSO, Birmingham and the Wigmore Hall in early December, with the internationally acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams as soloist. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, for baritone and small ensemble, Howard Skempton will be Howard Skempton’s longest work to date. He comments: ‘Thanks to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the task of setting The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has made unusual demands. The narrative thrust of the poem suggested a pace of delivery beyond the comfort zone of a well-established technique. Composing is always an adventure, and I have occasionally imagined myself alongside the Mariner – in the same boat! Writing the piece has been sometimes a “breeze”, and sometimes not!’ 3 Friends of Coleridge Newsletter December 2015 The Friends of Coleridge Book Collection Over the years the Friends have built up a substan- tial collection of books by and about Coleridge and the Romantic Movement. Some were purchased and others donated. They were stored originally in Coleridge Cottage, but after its restoration they were moved to Dunster Castle. For some time the Friends have been negotiating with the National Trust to have a bookcase installed at the Cottage containing a number of the core volumes. These would illustrate the range of Coleridge’s achievement as both poet and writer. Agreement has now been reached for a book- case in the Exhibition Room. It will be a bespoke, The collection contains some notable volumes, lockable bookcase, made by a local joiner to including: harmonise with the existing decorative style. It is ✦ Lyrical Ballads, 1st edition 1798 hoped it will be in position ready for the reopening ✦ Poems by Samuel Taylor Coleridge to which of the Cottage in March. are now added Poems by Charles Lamb and The Book Collection has been listed and recorded, Charles Lloyd, 1797 and Tom Mayberry is in the process of choosing up ✦ S T Coleridge: Poems on Various Subjects, to two hundred volumes to be included. The book- Cottle 1796 case will incorporate an open shelf on which one or ✦ The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Douglas two outstanding books can be displayed open. Cleverdon, Bristol 1929. Limited edition 177/460. Copper engravings by David Jones There are also volumes signed and/or inscribed by Ernest Hartley Coleridge, Edith Coleridge, Lucy E Watson, and Alex W Gillman. A home will eventually need to be found for the remainder of the Collection, which includes many modern critical works and many of the Bollingen edition volumes. Somerset Library Service has shown an interest for a Coleridge Study Centre at Nether Stowey Library, where the books can go on display. However, the Friends are open to ideas and suggestions. The Coleridge Way Companion Guide Ian Pearson’s Coleridge Way route guide and path companion takes the reader along the full 51 miles of the path. It is a travelogue, route guide, and gazetteer, and packed with stories and anecdotes about Coleridge himself, the people who live (and lived) along the path, and the places the poet would have visited. Ian Pearson has been involved with the Coleridge Way project since its inception, and walked the route prior to its official opening in 2005. He is keen to continue his involve- ment with the path and planned to be the first person to walk the newly extended route on 1st June 2014 – thwarted by a broken arm while researching the guide.