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The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, Vol. 5 by Edited by E. V. Lucas

E >> Edited by E. V. Lucas >> The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, Vol. 5



Produced by Keren Vergon, David King and PG Distributed Proofreaders




THE LETTERS OF CHARLES AND MARY LAMB

1796-1820

EDITED BY E. V. LUCAS

WITH A FRONTISPIECE



PREFACE


This edition of the correspondence of Charles and Mary Lamb contains 618
letters, of which 45 are by Mary Lamb alone. It is the only edition to
contain all Mary Lamb's letters and also a reference to, or abstract of,
every letter of Charles Lamb's that cannot, for reasons of copyright, be
included. Canon Ainger's last edition contains 467 letters and the
_Every-man's Library Edition_ contains 572. In 1905 the Boston
Bibliophile Society, a wealthy association of American collectors,
issued privately--since privately one can do anything--an edition in six
volumes (limited to 453 sets) of the correspondence of Charles and Mary
Lamb, containing everything that was available, which means practically
everything that was known: the number reaching a total of 762 letters;
but it will be many years before such a collection can be issued in
England, since each of the editions here has copyright matter peculiar
to itself. My attempt to induce the American owner of the largest number
of new letters to allow me to copy them from the Boston Bibliophile
edition has proved fruitless.

And here a word as to copyright in such documents in England, the law as
most recently laid down being established upon a set of sixteen of
Lamb's letters which unhappily are not (except in very brief abstract)
in the present edition. These letters, chiefly to Robert Lloyd, were
first published in _Charles Lamb and the Lloyds_, under my editorship,
in 1900, the right to make copies and publish them having been acquired
by Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. from Mrs. Steeds, a descendant of Charles
Lloyd. The originals were then purchased by Mr. J. M. Dent, who included
copies in his edition of Lamb's letters, under Mr. Macdonald's
editorship, in 1903. Meanwhile Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. had sold their
rights in the letters to Messrs. Macmillan for Canon Ainger's edition,
and when Mr. Dent's edition was issued Messrs. Macmillan with Messrs.
Smith, Elder & Co. brought an action. Mr. Dent thereupon acquired from
Mr. A. H. Moxon, the son of Emma Isola, Lamb's residuary legatee, all
his rights as representing the original author. The case was heard
before Mr. Justice Kekewich early in 1906. The judge held that "the
proprietor of the author's manuscript in the case of letters, as in the
case of any other manuscript, meant the owner of the actual paper on
which the matter was written, and that in the case of letters the
recipient was the owner. No doubt the writer could restrain the
recipient from publishing, and so could the writer's representatives
after death; but although they had the right to restrain others from
publishing, it did not follow that they had the right to publish and
acquire copyright. This right was given to the proprietor of the
manuscript, who, although he could be restrained from publishing by the
writer's personal representatives, yet, if not so restrained, could
publish and acquire copyright."

Mr. Dent appealed against this verdict and his appeal was heard on
October 31 and November 7, 1906, when the decision of Mr. Justice
Kekewich was upheld with a clearer definition of the right of restraint.
The Court, in deciding (I quote again from Mr. MacGillivray's summary)
that "the proprietors of manuscript letters were, after the writer's
death, entitled to the copyright in them when published, were careful to
make it clear that they did not intend to overrule the authority of
those cases where a deceased man's representatives have been held
entitled to restrain the publication of his private letters by the
recipients or persons claiming through them. The Court expressly
affirmed the common law right of the writer and his representatives in
unpublished letters. It did not follow that because the copyright, if
there was publication, would be in the person who, being proprietor of
the author's manuscript, first published, that that person would be
entitled to publish. The common law right would be available to enable
the legal personal representatives, under proper circumstances, to
restrain publication." That is how the copyright law as regards letters
stands to-day (1912).

The present edition has been revised throughout and in it will be found
much new material. I have retained from the large edition only such
notes as bear upon the Lambs and the place of the letters in their life,
together with such explanatory references as seemed indispensable. For
the sources of quotations and so forth the reader must consult the old
edition.

For permission to include certain new letters I have to thank the Master
of Magdalene, Mr. Ernest Betham, Major Butterworth, Mr. Bertram Dobell,
Mr. G. Dunlop, and Mr. E. D. North of New York.

As an example of other difficulties of editing, at any given time, the
correspondence of Charles and Mary Lamb, I may say that while these
volumes were going through the press, Messrs. Sotheby offered for sale
new letters by both hands, the existence of which was unknown equally to
English editors and to Boston Bibliophiles. The most remarkable of them
is a joint letter from sister and brother to Louisa Martin, their
child-friend (to whom Lamb wrote the verses "The Ape"), dated March 28,
1809. Mary begins, and Charles then takes the pen and becomes
mischievous. Thus, "Hazlitt's child died of swallowing a bag of white
paint, which the poor little innocent thing mistook for sugar candy. It
told its mother just before it died, that it did not like soft sugar
candy, and so it came out, which was not before suspected. When it was
opened several other things were found in it, particularly a small
hearth brush, two golden pippins, and a letter which I had written to
Hazlitt from Bath. The letter had nothing remarkable in it." ... The
others are from brother and sister to Miss Kelly, the actress, whom
Lamb, in 1819, wished to marry. The first, March 27, 1820, is from Mary
Lamb saying that she has taken to French as a recreation and has been
reading Racine. The second is from Lamb, dated July 6, 1825, thanking
Miss Kelly for tickets at Arnold's theatre, the Lyceum, and predicting
the success of his farce "The Pawnbroker's Daughter." How many more new
letters are still to come to light, who shall say?

In Mr. Bedford's design for the cover of this edition certain Elian
symbolism will be found. The upper coat of arms is that of Christ's
Hospital, where Lamb was at school; the lower is that of the Inner
Temple, where he was born and spent many years. The figures at the bells
are those which once stood out from the facade of St. Dunstan's Church
in Fleet Street, and are now in Lord Londesborough's garden in Regent's
Park. Lamb shed tears when they were removed. The tricksy sprite and the
candles (brought by Betty) need no explanatory words of mine.

E. V. L.




CONTENTS OF VOLUME V

LETTERS BY NUMBER

1796.

1 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge May 27
From the original in the possession of Mrs.
Alfred Morrison.

2 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge End of May?
From the original (Morrison Collection).

3 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge June 10
From the original (Morrison Collection).

4 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge June 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn's edition).

5 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge July 1
From the original (Morrison Collection).

6 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge July 5
From the facsimile of the original (Mr. E.
H. Coleridge).

7 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge July 6
From the original (Morrison Collection).

8 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Sept. 27
From the original (Morrison Collection).

9 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Oct. 3
From the original (Morrison Collection).

10 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Oct. 17
From the original (Morrison Collection).

11 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Oct. 24
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

12 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Oct. 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

13 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Nov. 8
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

14 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Nov. 14
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

15 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Dec. 2
From the original (Morrison Collection).

16 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Dec. 5
From the original (Morrison Collection).

17 Charles Lamb to S. T, Coleridge Dec. 9
Mr. Hazlitt's text (The Lambs).

18 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Dec. 10
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

1797.

19 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Jan. 2
From the original (Morrison Collection).

20 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Jan. 10
From the original (Morrison Collection).

21 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Jan. 18
From the original (Morrison Collection).

22 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Feb. 5
From the original (Morrison Collection).

23 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Feb. 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

24 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge April 7
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

25 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge April 15
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

26 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge June 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

27 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge June 24
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

28 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge (?)June 29
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

29 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Late July
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

30 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Aug. 24
From the original (Morrison Collection).

31 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge About Sept. 20
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

1798.

32 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Jan. 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

33 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Early summer
From the original in the Gluck Collection at Buffalo, U.S.A.

34 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey July 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

35 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Oct. 18
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

36 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Oct. 29
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

37 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Nov. 3
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

38 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Nov. 8
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

39 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey ?Nov.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).

40 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Nov. 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

41 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Dec. 27
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

1799.

42 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Jan. 21
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

43 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Jan. or Feb.
From the original.

44 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey March 15
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

45 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey March 20
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

46 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Oct. 31
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

47 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Dec.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

48 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Dec. 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

1800.

49 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge ?Jan. 23
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

50 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Feb. 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

51 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning March 1
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

52 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning March 17
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

53 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning April 5
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

54 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge ?April 16 or 17
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

55 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge ?Spring
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

56 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge May 12
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

57 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning May 20
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

58 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning ?May 25

59 Charles Lamb to J. M. Gutch No date
From Mr. G. A. Gutch's original.

60 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge ?Late July
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

61 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Aug. 6
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

62 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Aug. 9
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

63 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Aug. 11
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

64 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Aug. 14
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

65 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Aug. 24
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

66 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Aug. 26
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

67 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Aug. 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

68 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Sept. 22
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

69 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Oct. 16
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

70 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Nov. 3
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

71 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Nov. 28
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

72 Charles Lamb to William Godwin Dec. 4
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

73 Charles Lamb to William Godwin No date
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

74 Charles Lamb to William Godwin Dec. 10
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

75 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Dec. 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

76 Charles Lamb to William Godwin Dec. 14
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

77 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Dec. 16
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

78, 79 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning End of year
From _The Athenaeum_.

80 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Dec. 27
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

1801.

81 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth. Jan. 30
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

82 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Feb. 15
Canon Ainger's text.

83 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Late Feb.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

84 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning April
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

85 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning ?April
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

86 Charles Lamb to William Godwin June 29
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

87 Charles Lamb to Walter Wilson Aug. 14
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

88 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning ?Aug.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

89 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Aug. 31
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

90 Charles Lamb to William Godwin Sept. 9
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

91 Charles Lamb to William Godwin (_fragment_) Sept. 17
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

92 Charles Lamb to Mrs. Godwin No date
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

93 Charles Lamb to John Rickman ?Nov.
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

1802.

94 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning ?Feb. 15
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

95 Charles Lamb to John Rickman April 10
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

96 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning ?End of April
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

97 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge (_fragment_) Sept. 8
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

98 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Sept. 24
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

99 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Oct. 9
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

100 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Oct. 11
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

101 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge (_fragment_) Oct. 23
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

102 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge Nov. 4
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

103 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Nov.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) and Talfourd, with alterations.

1803.

104 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Feb. 19
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_) with alterations.

105 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning March
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

106 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth March 5
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

107 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge April 13
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

108 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge May
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

109 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge May 27
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

110 Mary Lamb to Dorothy Wordsworth. July 9
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

111 Charles Lamb to John Rickman July 16
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

112 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Sept. 21
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary And Charles Lamb_).

113 Charles Lamb to William Godwin Nov. 8
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

114 Charles Lamb to William Godwin Nov. 10
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

1804.

115 Charles Lamb to Thomas Poole. Feb. 14
From original in British Museum.

116 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge March 10
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

117 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart ?March
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles Lamb_).

118 Charles Lamb to S. T. Coleridge April 5
From the original (Morrison Collection).

119 Charles Lamb to Thomas Poole May 4
From original in British Museum.

120 Charles Lamb to Thomas Poole May 5
From original in British Museum.

121 Charles Lamb to Dorothy Wordsworth June 2
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

122 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart }
123 Charles Lamb to Sarah Stoddart } Late July
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles Lamb_).

124 Part I., Charles Lamb to William }
Wordsworth }
125 Part II., Mary Lamb to Dorothy }
Wordsworth } Oct. 13
126 Part III., Mary Lamb to Mrs. S.T. }
Coleridge }
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

127 Charles Lamb to Robert Southey Nov. 7

1805.

128 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Feb. 18
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

129 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Feb. 19
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

130 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Feb. 23
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

131 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth March 5
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

132 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth March 21
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

133 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth April 5
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

134 Mary Lamb to Dorothy Wordsworth May 7
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

135 Charles Lamb to Dorothy Wordsworth June 14
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

136 Charles Lamb to Thomas manning July 27
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

137 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart ?Sept. 18
From the original.

138 Charles Lamb to William and Dorothy
Wordsworth Sept. 28
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

139 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Early Nov.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles Lamb_).

140 Charles Lamb to William Hazlitt Nov. 10
From the original.

141 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Nov. 9 and 14
From the original.

142 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Nov. 15
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn) with alterations.

1806.

143 Charles Lamb to William Hazlitt Jan. 15
From the original.

144 Charles Lamb to John Rickman. Jan. 25
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

145 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Feb. 1
From the original, recently in the possession of Mr. Gordon
Wordsworth.

146 Charles Lamb to William Hazlitt Feb. 19
From the original.

147 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Feb. 20, 21 and 22
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles Lamb_).

148 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart March
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles Lamb_).

149 Charles Lamb to John Rickman March
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

150 Charles Lamb to William Hazlitt March 15
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

151 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning May 10
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_The Lambs_).

152 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart June 2
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles Lamb_).

153 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth June 26
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

154 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart ?July 4
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles Lamb_).

155 Mary Lamb to Dorothy Wordsworth Aug. 29
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

156 Mary Lamb to S. T. Coleridge. No date
From the original (Morrison Collection).

157 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Oct. 23
From the original.

158 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Dec. 5
From the original.

159 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Dec. 11
From Mr. Gordon Wordsworth's original.

160 Charles Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Dec. 11
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

161 Charles Lamb to William Godwin No date
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin: His Friends_, etc.).

1807.

162 Charles Lamb to William Wordsworth Jan. 29
From the original in Dr. Williams' Library.

163 Charles Lamb to T. and C. Clarkson June
From the original in the possession of
Mr. A.M.S. Emthuen.

164 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Oct.
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles
Lamb_).

165 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart Dec. 21
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles
Lamb_).

1808.

166 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddard Feb. 12
From the original.

167 Charles Lamb to the Rev. W. Hazlitt Feb. 18
Mr. Hazlitt's text (Bohn).

168 Charles Lamb to Thomas Manning Feb. 26
From the original.

169 Charles lamb to Matilda Betham No date
From _A House of Letters_.

170 Charles Lamb to Matilda Betham No date
From _A House of Letters_.

171 Charles Lamb to William Godwin March 11
Mr. Kegan Paul's text (_William Godwin
His Friends_, etc.).

172 Charles Lamb to Henry Crabb Robinson March 12
From the original in Dr. Williams' Library

173 Mary Lamb to Sarah Stoddart March 16
From the original.

174 Charles Lamb to George Dyer Dec. 5
From _The Mirror_.

175 Mary Lamb to Sarah Hazlitt }
176 Charles Lamb to Sarah Hazlitt } Dec. 10
Mr. Hazlitt's text (_Mary and Charles
Lamb_).

Alex Ross: Winner of the Guardian first book award
Stuart Evers: They made a real difference to Britain's literary culture, and it would be a terrible shame if they got forgotten in the age of Amazon

Congratulations to Alex Ross, winner of the Guardian first book award
One of only seven copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard handwritten by JK Rowling is unveiled at the New York Public Library as the mass market edition goes on sale around the world

The arcane first book that's also a bestseller

Congratulations to Alex Ross, the deserving winner of the 2008 Guardian first book award. There's been a massed chorus of appreciation for this work already, so I shan't add much, except to say that what I particular enjoy about it is the connections it makes between musics and musicians. I'm the sort of person who goes to a lot of concerts, plays the violin, has some kind of grasp of how the history of music works – but frankly, it's all a bit fragmented and vague, since I have never studied the history of music properly and I can't really do the textbook musicological stuff. As I was reading Ross's book, it dawned on me that most of my knowledge of 20th-century music was based on reading the occasional Grove essay – and mostly, reading programme notes. What Ross's book does brilliantly is knit all these odd and isolated bits of knowledge together, so that everything starts to synthesise rather wonderfully, and you get to know what Sibelius thought of Stravinsky, say (not much – "stillborn affectations" was the phrase employed); or that Alban Berg was lionised by George Gershwin; or that David Bowie referenced Philip Glass and vice versa. That, and then the material is set against its historical and political background, such that this is a book for history-lovers as much as music-lovers.

By the way, there's a pungent criticism of the new-music scene by Hans Eisler in 1928, as quoted by Ross. How much have things changed, I wonder?

"The big music festivals have become downright stock exchanges, where the value of the works is assessed and contracts for the coming season are settled. Yet all this noise is carried out in the vacuum of a bell glass, so to speak, so that not a sound can be heard outside. An empty officiousness celebrates orgies of inbreeding, while there is a complete lack of interest or participation of a public of any kind."

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