Lot 93
Brown, George Mackay: Orkney manuscripts
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 14 February 2018 at 10:00 GMT
Description
50 leaves of notes, dated 1946-1948, each c.16 x 10cm and torn from a notebook or notebooks, in George Mackay Brown's hand, containing thoughts on literature and life, including a first or early draft of the poem Further than Hoy, with several deviations from the published 1954 version and incorporating a verse Further than Faith; Ships in the Ice, comprising 14 pp. on 14 leaves, mostly 17.5 x 13.5cm, of unpublished? manuscript telling the story of Franklin's Arctic expedition from the point of view of an Inuit man named Malik, signed George Mackay Brown 21 May 1973 [note: the posthumously published Northern Lights also contains a section with the same title, but different text]; The Old Women 1 page of notes for a poem involving whaling, unsigned [note: these are not notes for Brown's published poem The Old Women]; The Storm Watchers 10pp. (on 10 leaves) manuscript with corrections, each leaf 25 x 20cm, signed George Mackay Brown October 1962 (with date crossed through), published in A Calendar of Love; The Jomsvikings 12pp. (on 12 leaves) unpublished? manuscript, signed G.M.B., each leaf 25 x 12cm, some repairs, first leaf split into two; "The Tower at the Edge of the World" 3pp. (on 3 leaves) manuscript on lined notepaper, each leaf 20 x 13cm, comprising notes for a Radio Orkney book review, signed GMB 25/9/1961; Advice to Tourists at the West Shore: 13 March 1995 unpublished acrostic poem in two stanzas of five, then six, lines spelling the name 'Brian Murray', signed GMB 20.ii.95, written as a birthday present, 16 x 23cm; and two other items: a manuscript letter from George Mackay Brown to Brian Murray and notes by George Mackay Brown regarding an orkney prose anthology
Footnote
Provenance: From the family of Brian Murray, Literary Executor to George Mackay Brown