Modern Books and Manuscripts
Michael 31st January, 1910 - 6th October, 1931. (1932.)
Photograph portrait on title-page and 22 photographic plates. Sole and private edition of unknown limitation. 8vo., a very good copy in original green cloth with blind arabesque designs, spine simply lettered "Michael" in gilt, very trivial rubbing to extremes of joints. Privately Printed under the Care of the Nonesuch Press.
Inscribed, touchingly, by the subject's mother and compiler of this memorial volume: "For my darling May from Pamela".Michael McKenna was the son of Reginald and Pamela McKenna, friends of Francis Meynell, the founder of the Press. He had been educated at Summer Fields (prep school, Oxford), Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and this memoir was compiled from his letters and papers by his mother after his early death from an investigative operation for "an internal haemorrhage". On pages 427-488 are printed some of Michael's poems with an introductory note by Ralph Hodgson: "In spite of his outward gaiety and abounding love of fellowship, Michael was always a stranger here and grew up less and less at home in the world; he had no place with us, no foothold here, nor wished for any. Latterly he clouded, and knew it, alas!"
Stock Code: MO43885
