Vernon Scannell – Soldiering On – SIGNED First Edition 1989 – with accompanying letters
£85.00
A first edition, first printing of Soldiering On: Poems of Military Life by Vernon Scannell, published by Robson Books, London in 1989. A near fine copy signed by the author in black ink to the title page, a former owner’s name and date to the front free end paper in black ink, some toning to the text block. In a similarly near fine unclipped wrapper with fading to the spine and some shelf wear to the front and rear flap folds. With two contemporary letters in envelopes dated 23rd October 1989 and 3rd November 1989 respectively, written by Scannell from his home address in Otley, West Yorkshire. With four miscellaneous newspaper articles relating to Scannell and his work.
Published in 1989, Soldiering On: Poems of Military Life draws on Vernon Scannell’s own wartime service to portray army life from the ordinary soldier’s viewpoint. The sequence is unsentimental, confronting fear, violence, boredom and guilt, while also finding absurdity and grim comedy in military routine. Written with Scannell’s characteristic clarity and formal control, the collection reflects the Otley poet’s lifelong engagement with war, memory and survival, and his distrust of traditional heroic myths about combat.
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- Description
Description
A first edition, first printing of Soldiering On: Poems of Military Life by Vernon Scannell, published by Robson Books, London in 1989. A near fine copy signed by the author in black ink to the title page, a former owner’s name and date to the front free end paper in black ink, some toning to the text block. In a similarly near fine unclipped wrapper with fading to the spine and some shelf wear to the front and rear flap folds. With two contemporary letters in envelopes dated 23rd October 1989 and 3rd November 1989 respectively, written by Scannell from his home address in Otley, West Yorkshire. With four miscellaneous newspaper articles relating to Scannell and his work.
Published in 1989, Soldiering On: Poems of Military Life draws on Vernon Scannell’s own wartime service to portray army life from the ordinary soldier’s viewpoint. The sequence is unsentimental, confronting fear, violence, boredom and guilt, while also finding absurdity and grim comedy in military routine. Written with Scannell’s characteristic clarity and formal control, the collection reflects the Otley poet’s lifelong engagement with war, memory and survival, and his distrust of traditional heroic myths about combat.
