[ Ronald Duncan, poet and playwright. ] Typed Letter Signed to bookseller Barry Duncan, regarding his play 'Nothing Up My Sleeve'. With a carbon copy of Barry Duncan's letter that elicited this response.

Author: 
Ronald Duncan (1914-1982), poet, playwright and author, collaborator with Benjamin Britten
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Welcombe, near Bideford, North Devon. 20 December 1950.
£35.00
SKU: 17948

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight rusting at head from paperclip. He writes that there is 'no relationship between myself and any of the people you mention. I have no antecedents such as you suggest and I cannot recall having received a copy of your catalogue.' Turning to the character 'Horace' in his play 'Nothing Up My Sleeve' he writes: 'he's just a figment of my imagination and the whole play is just a piece of work without any intended resemblance to anyone, only types.' The carbon copy of Barry Duncan's letter is somewhat aged and worn around the edges. He suggests two relations whom he thinks might connect him with Ronald Duncan, discussing their backgrounds, and then turns to the play, writing: 'Now the other matter. I've never joined the "Watergate" [...] but it appears [...] that you may know much more about me than does most of my present circle. Not only have I moved in the class of society you are said to portray, and have worked "the markets", but I have been a professional healer and the Christian name I then used was that of your present "hero". [...]'