SEAN O'CASEY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 06/13/1933 - HFSID 176042
Sale Price $745.00
Reg. $900.00
SEAN O'CASEY. ALS: "Sean O'Casey", 1p,
6½x9¼. Milltown N.S. Mulligan, 1933 June 6. To "Editor Irish
World, New York". In full: "I hope a 'Forde' still holds the post
as Editor. We ask you to publish enclosed Review. Out of sale we hope to erect a
monument in his natal spot to 'Leo'. He is worthy of it. For any help -
editorial - you may give we shall be ever grateful. Perhaps you'll kindly send a
copy to us of your paper with article. Best wishes sincerely." Written ten
years after Irish dramatist O'CASEY wrote The Shadow of a Gunman,
the first play in his Dublin trilogy. The last play in the trilogy, The
Plough and the Stars, is one of his most noted works. Lightly creased,
folds, not at signature. Paper clip rust stain at upper left margin.
Accompanied by a carbon of the typed review, 3p, 8x13, signature in type,
but corrections (bolded) in O'Casey's hand. Tribute to Irish poet JOHN
KEEGAN CASEY, the "Leo" of this letter, whose book, The Rising of the
Moon and Other Ballads, is listed at the top of the review. The review is
divided into three parts. Part 1 is titled: "OUR DEBTS TO OUR IRISH POETS."
In full: "Ireland should be proud of her poets. They are the
nation's greatest asset. For centuries they have shone as 'stars' through the
national problems that have confronted us. They have prevented the attacks of
the 'alien' to standardise and make docile generations of Irishmen. They have
kept the flag of the 'ideal' flying proudly over other flags and have inspired
our people to lift up their eyes to it. Our poets have brought beauty and
nobility into our lives Our Irish songsters have ever been foremost in
challenging an 'alien' culture to dominate our Gaelic lives. Sometimes we have
treated them shabbily." Part 2 is titled: "THE EDITOR, HIS PREFACE, AND
LUKE CASEY: SCHOOLMASTER." In part: "We have at last a new editor
of John Keegan Casey's (Leo) songs It is edited by Flann Fitzgerald, the pen
name for Seamus Fenton, deputy chief inspector of schools. No one better fitted
for the work could be found. Mr. Fenton has already edited the work of some of
our Kerry Gaelic poets, and no man for the past 40 years has done more to
advance and honour the cause of Gaelic Ireland than he has. The editor has
thrown his own personality into the preface, which is a vigorous philosophic
synopsis of our history for the past 100 years....". The section concludes
with a brief biography of Leo's father, Luke Casey. Part 3 is titled: "LEO
THE POET." It provides a biography of Leo and lines from some of his poems.
In part: "John Keegan Casey was born and lived his life of 24 years in
days when the claim for liberty was a tanamount to high treason...Leo was born
in Loughan about half way between the hamlet of Rathconrath and Newbristy
school...In Loughan the young poet communed with the heroic spirits of the past
and breathed the rebel faith in Ireland...As a poet and soldier Leo Casey stands
out as the outstanding figure. The centre and inspiration of the Fenians of
South Westmeath and Longford...From the treatment he received in Mount Joy jail
Leo died in 1870 at the age of 24. Had he lived he could have developed into a
'Clarence Mangan'or a goldsmith' (sic). As a poet Leo is now, only coming
to his own. His greatness is becoming recognized and the volume of verse has
come out at an opportune time. No household in Ireland - in Westmeath and
Longford in particular, should be without a copy. A monument stand (sic)
to Leo's memory in Glasnevin. Some expression of rememberance (sic) in
concrete form should be errected (sic) in Loughan, for the sweet Fenian
singer, who in his days kept alive the spirituality and hopes of the
Gael...." Typed postscript, initialed S.O.C. in type: "There is a
south Westmeath story redolent of Knockcastain in the current month's
Catholic bulletin. It is written by Leo's Editor and deals with the
lighter side of Leo. The writer has the divine literary, spark, which
kindles and glows. The story deals with the Fenian period in Westmeath. Those
who want a knowledge of that time should read that story. It is entitled
'Calling, The Rolls. and is substantially true." Worn and fragile.
Separations at horizontal folds. Nicked edges. Shaded. Lightly creased. Two
items.
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