PURCELL, Victor as Myra Buttle

The Sweeniad

First edition, preceding the Sagamore trade edition. Octavo. Red cloth gilt, without dustwrapper as issued. The gilt lettering a bit faded, faint dampstain on the boards, a very good copy. Complimentary slip from Myra Buttle laid in. A satire of T.S. Eliot, printed for private circulation. Laid in is a one page Autograph Letter Signed to Buttle from English author and drama critic Charles Purdon in the year of publication, whose arch tone sounds like he was in on the joke: "Dear Miss Buttle, You were a very good girl to send me a copy of The Sweeniad & not at all an ordinary girl to have made so well deserved an examination of the great Sweeney. It is writing of himself at his best. Similar personal attention to his so-called plays would be much appreciated by me. He is the nothingness of our age, great ability with waste of soul. Your book gave me great pleaseure. I hope you are sleeping well. Yours sincerely, C.B. Purdom." Also laid in is a similarly arch two page Autograph Letter Signed from "Myra Buttle": [in part] "How very kind of you to write to me so encouragingly about The Sweeniad!...Perhaps one of these days I may have a bang at the so-called plays too. The Response I am getting is very heartening, Bertrand Russell is enthusiastic...Graham Green (surprisingly enough) sends me a post-card with 'Bravo' on it." Buttle goes on to reveal the answer to a riddle in the text.

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