Hackney

2001 · ref. 36752 — Bath: Old School Press 2001. Hardcover. Fine. Hardcover. Number 131 of 230 copies signed by the poet and illustrator. From the press: "For the fifth title in our series of the work of contemporary British poets we were fortunate to have the opportunity of printing an extended four-part poem by Poet Laureate emeritus Andrew Motion. He was England's Poet Laureate from 1999-2009. Writing of his work Motion says 'A Long Story assembled itself over several years into a loose sequence of four sections none of them rhymed and all are written in a very loose rambling rhythm. I began with the wish to identify certain memories in my childhood which I've always considered to be 'spots of time' - ie moments which have a self-contained interest and drama - and ended up with scenes which anticipate even predict certain moods and attitudes I have as an adult. 'To complement Motion's narrative style we turned once more to leading wood-engraver Simon Brett whose ability to tell a story in a single sinewy image we greatly admire and who cut four wood-engravings for the book.'' For this elegant book the text was hand-set in 14pt Fournier italic and printed on 170gsm Magnani mould-made paper. Brett's engravings were printed from the wood onto dampened paper. The book was bound by Rachel and Richard James. It is quarter-bound with yellow cloth on the spine with a rich dark green hand-made paper from the Larroque mill covering the boards black Canson end-papers and the title embossed in gold on the front cover. In fine condition. Measures 8 x 11 inches. Unpaginated 44 pages PRI/082823. Old School Press hardcover books