HUGHES, Ted. Three Books: Remains of Elmet; Cave of Birds; River. London: Faber and Faber. 1993.
8vo. Original soft card covers, with illustration by Leonard Baskin to front cover; pp. ix, [1, (blank)], 186, [8, (blank); fading to spine, minor rubbing to corners and minimal scuffing to top and bottom of spine with light white mark to rear cover, creasing to hinge of spine to front cover; near fine; authorial inscription “For Nick / with love / from / Ted / weekend of 5th December 1993” and drawing of a fish and a fly in black ink to front free endpaper (see below).
First edition, warmly inscribed by Hughes to his friend and angling companion Nick Grant, and with a charming drawing of a fish and a fly by the poet.
This collection of poems is the first combined edition of Cave Birds (1978), Remains of Elmet (1979), and River (1983).
Provenance: From the library of Nick Grant (d. 2018). Grant and Hughes had spent much time fishing together and attempting to improve the quality of the waterways in the United Kingdom; both were donors to the Westcountry Waters Trust. This inscription beautifully captures their friendship and shared interests.
SKU: 2121051