Fleece Press - Dear Mercia - A bargain
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1ChampagneSVP
I recently purchased a copy of Dilige Deum from Simon Lawrence's Fleece Press and noticed on his website that he had found some more copies of a book he printed 30 years ago - Dear Mercia: Paul Nash letters to Mercia Oakley, 1909-18. It is offered for £45 or £20 with the purchase of any other book.
I took a chance on it (not a very large gamble at only £20) and it arrived yesterday. I'm quite pleased with it and think it was an absolute bargain for $27 US. It is beautifully printed on Zerkall paper with uncut edges and bound by Smith Settle in quarter cloth with paste paper sides (what appear as flat brown and mustard colors in the website photo are actually pleasant multi-dimensional shades of brown/bronze/gold in person), slipcased, and includes a copy of an illustration from one of the letters folded into a pocket at the end of the book. 300 copies were made. I've only begun to read the letters and can't currently give a proper review but, thus far, I'm entertained.
I don't know how long the offer will last (maybe until all recently found copies are sold) but thought it was well worth sharing.
I took a chance on it (not a very large gamble at only £20) and it arrived yesterday. I'm quite pleased with it and think it was an absolute bargain for $27 US. It is beautifully printed on Zerkall paper with uncut edges and bound by Smith Settle in quarter cloth with paste paper sides (what appear as flat brown and mustard colors in the website photo are actually pleasant multi-dimensional shades of brown/bronze/gold in person), slipcased, and includes a copy of an illustration from one of the letters folded into a pocket at the end of the book. 300 copies were made. I've only begun to read the letters and can't currently give a proper review but, thus far, I'm entertained.
I don't know how long the offer will last (maybe until all recently found copies are sold) but thought it was well worth sharing.
2ChampagneSVP
I should have included the link: https://fleecepress.com/offers
3LBShoreBook
Hi ChampagneSVP, I noticed this book is still available at Fleece Press and it caught my eye as an add-on. Did you end up reading the book and, if so, would be interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks. 😊
4Shadekeep
I did notice that one recently and included it in my standing order with Simon. It should ship once the remaining volume in that order - My Brush is My Sword - comes out. Glad to hear it's worthwhile!
5ChampagneSVP
>3 LBShoreBook:
I'm happy with it but wouldn’t say it’s a must-buy unless you’re particularly interested in Nash or early lives of war artists. Nash and Mercia were childhood friends so his letters are open and earnest. The writing can be repetitive, he does a lot of apologizing for delayed correspondence and protesting to Mercia's apparent requests that he visit, and his spelling can be atrocious, but the inside look at his life (lots of parties and events) and his ambition and dedication to his art is fascinating. You see him go from initially wanting to be a “poet-painter” to having his first exhibition of paintings to enlisting in the Artists’ Rifles before being commissioned an Official War Artist.
Nash is also unexpectedly funny sometimes, sending "my love to your unpleasant mother" and complaining about his aunt’s “stupid parrit (sic) perpetually calling out the name of a long deceased dog & inaccurately describing my Aunt’s housekeeper as ‘pretty cooky.’”
The slipcase is cloth covered with paper panels on the side but it has uncovered open edges that I find unpleasant, otherwise the production itself is fantastic. The printing is clear and dark, the paper is fine, binding nice. There are sketches throughout and a painting reproduced and laid in a pocket in the back of the book. There are also footnotes that help understand the letters by giving brief explanations of the people and places Nash refers to. All in all, I enjoyed it quite a bit and will definitely dip into it again from time to time.
I'm happy with it but wouldn’t say it’s a must-buy unless you’re particularly interested in Nash or early lives of war artists. Nash and Mercia were childhood friends so his letters are open and earnest. The writing can be repetitive, he does a lot of apologizing for delayed correspondence and protesting to Mercia's apparent requests that he visit, and his spelling can be atrocious, but the inside look at his life (lots of parties and events) and his ambition and dedication to his art is fascinating. You see him go from initially wanting to be a “poet-painter” to having his first exhibition of paintings to enlisting in the Artists’ Rifles before being commissioned an Official War Artist.
Nash is also unexpectedly funny sometimes, sending "my love to your unpleasant mother" and complaining about his aunt’s “stupid parrit (sic) perpetually calling out the name of a long deceased dog & inaccurately describing my Aunt’s housekeeper as ‘pretty cooky.’”
The slipcase is cloth covered with paper panels on the side but it has uncovered open edges that I find unpleasant, otherwise the production itself is fantastic. The printing is clear and dark, the paper is fine, binding nice. There are sketches throughout and a painting reproduced and laid in a pocket in the back of the book. There are also footnotes that help understand the letters by giving brief explanations of the people and places Nash refers to. All in all, I enjoyed it quite a bit and will definitely dip into it again from time to time.
