Loading Search

• Buy this Book
• Read the First Chapter Free
• Book Creators
• Related Blog Posts
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

I had not intended that Embers should ever be given to the public, but friends whose judgment I respect have urged me to include it in the subscription edition at least, and with real
reluctance I have consented. It was a pleasure to me to have
one piece of work of mine which made no bid for pence or
praise; but if that is a kind of selfishness, perhaps unnecessary,
since n... More

I had not intended that Embers should ever be given to the public, but friends whose judgment I respect have urged me to include it in the subscription edition at least, and with real
reluctance I have consented. It was a pleasure to me to have
one piece of work of mine which made no bid for pence or
praise; but if that is a kind of selfishness, perhaps unnecessary,
since no one may wish to read the verses, I will now free myself
from any chance of reproach. This much I will say to soothe
away my own compunctions, that the book will only make the
bid for popularity or consideration with near a score of others,
and not separately, and that my responsibility is thus modified.
The preface to Embers says all that need be said about a collection which is, on the whole, merely a book of youth and memory and impressionism in verse. At least it was all spontaneous; it was not made to order on any page of it, and it is the handful left from very many handfuls destroyed. Since the first edition (intended only for my personal friends) was published I have written "Rosleen," "Where Shall We Betake Us?" "Granada," "Mary Callaghan and Me," "The Crowning" (on
the Coronation of King Edward VII), the fragment "Kildare" and "I Heard the Desert Calling"; and I have also included others like "The Tall Dakoon" and "The Red Patrol," written over twenty years ago. "Mary Callaghan and Me" has been set to music by Mr. Max Muller, and has made many friends, and "The Crowning" was the Coronation ode of The People, which gave a prize, too ample I think, for the best musical setting of the lines.

You must be a member of JacketFlap to add a video to this page. Please Log In or Register.