"The Lovers Meeting"
Clare's version of the Fifth Elegy of the First Book of Ovid
Our hand-made book was originally launched at John Clare Cottage, Helpston on Saturday, 9th November 2013 all now sold.
However, following a meeting with Patrick Roe of The
Fine Book Bindery just two days before the launch of that edition, it was agreed that he will produce the book for us, in an
edition limited to 200 copies.
So... the book has been produced in two versions - the initial one sold out, but The Fine Book Bindery edition still available at £20.
So... the book has been produced in two versions - the initial one sold out, but The Fine Book Bindery edition still available at £20.
Whilst we would have been able to continue to produce the books
ourselves, being offered this opportunity to have our book printed
and hand bound by a leading Fine Press maker of limited edition books is too
important for us to ignore. The level of quality in this artisan field of
letterpress printed and hand bound books will be higher than we can possibly
produce, yet we will still retain control of the book’s design and content.
Photos taken in the Cottage cafe on launch day, Friday 7th February 2014
---oOo---
Hot was the noon in summers sultry hour
The sun then raging with meridian power
When I more burning with the scorching heat
Of hot desire—lay hid in close retreat
Beneath the covert of a secret shade
Flush'd “with expectance of the lovley maid”
Sweet was the spot no one throughout the grove
Was better suited to the sports of Love
There is little doubt in our minds that Clare’s poetic
vision was somewhat more carnal, fleshy, voluptuous than his advisers thought
fitting, and of course, as a mere peasant what did he know about such
sensibilities?
As Professor Robinson says in his introduction to Early Poems of John Clare (OUP) : “To survey the whole range of his poetry about Woman is to encounter a many-faceted, exhilarating, and erotic sensibility.” This Clare certainly explored in his reworking of the Fifth Elegy of the First Book of Ovid, dating from 16 - 15 B.C.
As Professor Robinson says in his introduction to Early Poems of John Clare (OUP) : “To survey the whole range of his poetry about Woman is to encounter a many-faceted, exhilarating, and erotic sensibility.” This Clare certainly explored in his reworking of the Fifth Elegy of the First Book of Ovid, dating from 16 - 15 B.C.
---oOo---
'The Lovers Meeting' as published by John Clare Cottage Press
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