Magic Water

Kingston, Ontario: The Quarry Press, 1971. 72pp. Original publisher's turquoise cloth lettered in gilt, with the original photographic dustwrapper. Wrapper with significant losses to the front panel, with staining and some smoke damage. Boards a little stained and faded, associated smoke odour. Lightly toned with minor water damage, some pages adhered. Inscribed 'to Olwyn & Keith with all good wishes Tom' on the FFEP, a little water smudged. From the estate of Olwyn Hughes, recently dispersed; the smoke damage is the result of an errant cigarette dropped by Olwyn down the back of her sofa, which caused a serious fire. From the estate of Olwyn Hughes, recently dispersed; the smoke damage is the result of an errant cigarette dropped by Olwyn down the back of her settee, which caused a serious fire. Tom Marshall (1938-1993) was a Canadian poet, critic, and novelist. This is his third published collection. Olwyn Hughes (1928-2016) was a translator, agent and literary executor who had worked in Paris for NATO, Martonplay, and King Peter II of Yugoslavia, among others. After the death of her sister-in-law Sylvia Plath, she returned to England to assist her brother, Ted Hughes, raise his young children, though also took over the management of both his career and Plath's literary estate. While she did have some other clients as a literary agent, including Jean Rhys, much of the rest of her life was dedicated to preserving - and defending - both Plath and Hughes. . First edition. 8vo.