The Powys Review NUMBER TEN The Powys Review Editor Belinda Humfrey Reviews Editor Peter Miles Advisory Board Glen Cavaliero Ben Jones Derrick Stephens Correspondence, contributions, and books for review may be addressed to the Editor, Department of English, Saint David's University College, Lampeter, Dyfed, SA48 7ED Copyright ©, The Editor The Powys Review is published with the financial support of the Welsh Arts Council. We are grateful to Mr. Francis Powys and Laurence Pollinger Ltd., for permission to quote from the writings of John Cowper Powys and T. F. Powys, and to Mrs. Evelyn Elwin for permission to quote from the writings of Llewelyn Powys. The Powys Review may be obtained from Booksellers for £2, or from Gomer Press, Llandysul, Dyfed, for £2 plus 60p postage. The Powys Review is printed by J. D. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Gomer Press, Llandysul, Dyfed Enquiries about advertisement in The Powys Review should be made to James Dawson, 34 Rouse Gardens, Alleyn Park, London, SE21 8AF. Tel. 01 670 2824 Contents Editorial 5 Reviews John Rhys, J. Lawrence Mitchell Celtic Folklore Welsh and Manx. Ray Garnett as Illustrator 9 D. SIMON EVANS 89 John Williams William Blissett, The Long Conversation: A Memoir of David Jones. Theodore Powys: DAVID BLAMIRES 89 "all good books tell the same tale'' 29 Gunther Stuhlmann, Theodora Scutt Henry Miller: Letters to Anais Nin. Theodore Powys, 1934-1953: PARIS LEARY 90 a continuation 42 Adelaide Ross, Stephen Powys Marks Reverie. A. R. Powys: a sketch of his life and work 49 PETER EASINGWOOD 92 Patrick Grant, John Thomas Six Modern Authors and Problems of Belief. The Shock of the New: A. R. Powys and LIONEL ADEY 94 Building Repair 67 Victoria Glendinning, Oliver Holt Edith Sitwell: A Unicorn Among Lions. Littleton Powys 73 ALAN MUNTON 96 Littleton Powys M. A. Screech, Llandovery 50 years ago (1955) 82 Rabelais. TREVOR PEACH 98 John Baker Rex Hunter, John Cowper Powys in Corwen 85 The Saga of Sinclair. JOHNS. MACALISTER 100 J. C. Powys andJames Hanley in Corwen, c.1935 87 Paul Fussell, Abroad: British Literary Travelling Between the Wars. PETER MILES 101 Notes on Contributors 105 The Powys Review Number Ten 1981/1982(Spring 1982) Volume III ii Two portraits of Phyllis Playter: top, by Adrian Bury, 1935; bottom, by Gertrude M. Powys, 1944 (by courtesy of Mrs. Lucy Penny) Editorial We lament the death, early this springtime, But both valued highly their seclusion. Both of Phyllis Playter, companion of John guarded their privacy—to such an extent that Cowper Powys whom she met sixty years in letters to comparative strangers Powys ago. Phyllis Playter was not only outstanding would sometimes refer to her as his 'house- in her own right as a person, but, self-effacing keeper'. as she was determined to be, it is apparent that she was of inestimable mental and spirit- Yet, in their first letters to me, members of ual value to John Cowper Powys as a writer. the Powys family would pointedly refer to her Also, there must be those, like the Editor, as "our dear sister-in-law Phyllis". And who very soon perceived that elements of her Philippa Powys once said to me, "if our personality were reflected in some of Powys's mother had searched the world over she fictional characters, such as Christie of Wolf would never have found a better girl for Jack Solent. than Phyllis". John Cowper Powys himself, Three long-time friends of Phyllis Playter in conversations with me, always referred to (and John Cowper Powys) have been asked to Margaret Lyon as "my son's mother" — write briefly about her in preface to this never as his wife, which legally she had been. Review, and those who, with the Editor, The unspoken implication was obvious. remember Phyllis Playter with affection, Phyllis Playter's two oldest and closest delight and enormous respect, will recognise friends, Alyse Gregory and Gamel Woolsey, some of their experience of her through their both made it very clear to me that their regard tributes. Further to these, we are pleased to for Phyllis was based on respect and admir- add a literary note in tribute from Professor ation as much as on the affection of life-long Wilson Knight who met Phyllis Playter friendship. several times but here writes in a public role. John Cowper Powys's Diaries, as yet un- published, began with—and were a contin- uation of—the letters he wrote each day and FREDERICK DAVIES posted each week to Phyllis while he was in The only child of Franklyn Playter, and England in 1922. After his death parts of the grand-daughter of pioneers who opened up Diaries were frequently read to me by Phyllis the Middle West by building the first rail- Playter. Their publication will enable road from Pittsburgh to Kansas City, Phyllis exegeses to be made of Wolf Solent, A Glaston- Playter was both a very remarkable woman bury Romance and Maiden Castle which will and a very great lady. Educated in Boston reveal the extent to which Phyllis Playter and Paris, she possessed outstanding influenced the writing of those books. It will intellect, wide culture, and intuition of then be a matter for surmise whether, but for extraordinary and piercing acuteness. Phyllis Playter, the great novels from Wolf In 1921, at the age of twenty-seven, she Solent to Porius would ever have been written. became the 'femme de confiance' of John When John Cowper Powys died, Phyllis Cowper Powys and from then until his death Playter gave me something he had written in 1963 she nurtured and gave direction to his expressing what she had meant to him. It was chaotic, wayward genius. given on the understanding it would not be For over forty years the relationship revealed until after she herself was dead. I between Phyllis Playter and John Cowper shall allow the Editor of The Powys Review to Powys was stronger, more enduring, and make use of it as and when it may be thought more happy, than that between most legally fit and appropriate. married couples. Both were indifferent to I mourn the loss of a friend whose company public opinion. Neither felt the need, after his always enhanced 'The pleasure which there is wife's death, to legalise their companionship. in life itself. Editorial GILBERT TURNER listening to John Cowper were now replaced by exploration of the beauty spots of North Phyllis Playter, who died on the 10th March Wales, with Phyllis, at 75, making high work at the age of 87, was for very many years the of the somewhat arduous expedition of devoted companion of John Cowper Powys. climbing the Roman steps in Ardudwy. Her As a young woman she had attended his interest in all aspects of the arts was satisfied lectures in the United States, became a close by visits to London, devoted to art galleries, friend and soon became indispensable to him. concerts, films and the theatre. When over 80 John Cowper was the least practical of men years of age Phyllis still delighted in day trips and it would be difficult to exaggerate the to London to see a particular exhibition, importance of Phyllis in the ordering of his whilst she seldom missed a Welsh Arts daily life throughout his most creative period Council sponsored film, drama or concert in —as housekeeper, the typist of his manu- North Wales. scripts and, above all, as the person with whom he could discuss everything connected Fortunately Phyllis retained all her facul- with his writing—"my antennae" as he used ties to the very end and, in her little cottage in to say. There is no doubt that Phyllis prov- Blaenau Ffestiniog, was invariably to be found ided the calm atmosphere and the encourage- surrounded by literary reviews, newspapers, ment for the writing of the great novels, both national and local, and new books which beginning with Wolf Solent and ending with were read with a very critical eye. Since my Porius. Although Phyllis may have given the retirement to North Wales I had been able to impression of being a somewhat shy and visit her frequently and I only wish I could retiring person, she was in fact a woman of convey adequately the delight with which one very considerable intellect and in discussion was invariably received, the animated dis- and conversation by no means overshadowed cussions on every conceivable subject and the by John Cowper. sincere regret when it was time to go. The position of companion to John Cowper was nevertheless an exacting one and GLEN CAVALIERO placed many restrictions upon Phyllis. To give but one example—her keen appreciation Her stillness is what comes immediately to of classical music was not shared by John my mind. This benign yet distant serenity Cowper and the record player had to be was in no way belied by her animated talk, for played at very low volume and in another her animation was not, as with so many room! Following their return to England in people, called out by her partner in conver- 1934 and their settling in Wales in the sation. There was nothing aggressive about following year, Phyllis and John Cowper were it, nothing self-glorifying; rather it sprang never apart and Phyllis was the charming and from the object of her thought. Those considerate hostess to many visitors, both thoughts of hers were fully attuned to the family and otherwise, first at Corwen and contemporary world, and her eager interest then at Blaenau Ffestiniog. During the latter in what was going on recalled that of Marian part of John Cowper's life caring for him Powys Grey, just as her stillness was shared became a more and more onerous task but the by Alyse Gregory, if in a more intent, less devotion and the care continued to the end.