As they say in Baw-stun, this is a wicked-tall green thing. Proof's aren't pretty, but they can be very interesting to compare with what got into the final book and what did not. This proof has at least three different spots where there is really thick 'white-out' applied. There are handwrit notes throughout, which are not original but part of the copied text.
13 comments:
Hey Laurie. How interesting...an uncorrected proof with corrections! {;^) Very cool. I'm going to have to be more zealous about seeking out this kind of thing. Where did you come across the proof copy?
I wonder if those handwritten notes shown in the photo are in Aurelia's hand. I assume she would have been the one editing the proofs. --Jim
I thought the same thing: how can they call it uncorrected? I've seen Aurelia's handwriting and it isn't hers. Her handwriting was smaller, tighter. Dare I say "older" if you know what I mean?
You can get your own copy of a Letters Home proof for $35 from riverrun in Hastings-on-Hudson. If you search ABEbooks for Author: Plath Keyword: Proof, you'll see a host of lovely things.
It's funny, when I was typing the title, I did a double take on the "uncorrected" and debated leaving that word out, because it seemed an oxymoron.
....and thanks Peter for the handwriting insight.
I don't recall where I got my proof. It was probably through Abe or Alibris. I've had it forever.
Pure speculation but I wouldn't be surprised if this is Olewyn's handwriting. Ted Hughes certainly would have been offered the chance to correct these proofs, and Olewyn often did this sort of 'drudge' work for her brother, and this is quite of the 'tone' she'd employ in references to him. I don't remember ever seeing any examples of Olewyn's handwriting though.
Peter's definitely right that it isn't Aurelia's; see my blog post of Feb. 19th for view of her handwriting on a postcard she sent to me.
Thanks again Laurie; your stuff is beautiful to look at!
Hi George~ Hmmm. Maybe it is Olwyn's. I've never seen anything by her to compare.
I did check out your pc from Aurelia. Very, very cool.
Thanks for visiting my blog! Much as I loathe digital photography, this never would have happened if I was shooting 35mm and developing/scanning.
cheerios,
Laurie
Of course what my heart really cries out to read is what was so emphatically white-outed ... had Aurelia thanked Ted but not elegantly or sufficiently enough to please the Ted-adoring Olewyn? Ah ... conjecture, conjecture!
Well, George, sometimes wishes do come true! I cannot read my whited out text, it is just too thick...but I know someone who could read their's. Stay tuned :o)
p.s. You are a good guesser!
I don't think it's Olwyn's handwriting either. I've seen her's at Smith - but the handwriting on the proof doesn't look familiar.
This is AWESOME, to me like seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls in a blog! Had no idea there were all of you wildly Sylvia-blogging away... I'll be back soon.
Hi MrsTarquinB...
Did you see Peter's post on his wonderful site about what he was able to decipher from under the white-out from his copy of LH proof? It's pretty interesting.
Thanks for stopping by and for posting!
regards,
Laurie
The handwriting looks like Ted's - I have some postcards of his from Court Green, and from what I can tell, the writing looks similar.
Thanks for the heads up, Peter - I just bought an uncorrected proof copy off ABE to add to my Plath and Hughes library
Kim
I just received my proof copy of Letters Home and there was a letter included from Frances
McCullough - I think the writing you mention is Fran's. She was the editor and the copy I have was a copy she sent to writer Linda Kuehl, asking for her comments. Kim
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