Correspondence between Herbert Read and Margaret Nash, re Paul Nash's autobiography 'Outline'.

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 70 TGA 7050/3131-3162
  • Dates of Creation
      1947 - 1949
  • Physical Description
      37 pieces

Scope and Content

Incomplete at the time of his death in 1946, Margaret wished Herbert Read to oversee and edit the fragments for Faber & Faber to publish (TGA 7050/3131-2). The correspondence discusses the inclusion or omission of Paul Nash essays 'Aerial Flowers', 'Monster Field' and articles 'Surrealist Swanage', 'Giants Stride' (both from Architectural Review), 'Personality of Planes' (Vogue), 'Unseen Landscapes' (Country Life) and 'Bombers's Lair' (unknown) (TGA 7050/3131-32, 3136-50, 3152); choosing and obtaining the colour blocks to illustrate these writings (TGA 7050/3133, 3143, 3145-49); other photographs and illustrations (TGA 7050/3133, 3138, 3141-47); Margaret's proposal of a further Paul Nash exhibition at the Leicester Galleries and the British Council's wish for Nash exhibitions in London and Paris (TGA 7050/3136-7); the possibility of Margot Eates and Hartley Ramsden working on the book, and Margaret's opinions on Hartley (TGA 7050/3134-5); John Nash illustrating the cover, and the omission of passages relating to John from the book (TGA 7050/3144, 3150, 3159-61); Margaret writing a passage linking the autobiography with Paul's war letters (TGA 7050/3153-57); Margaret's concerns with a British Council exhibition in the USA misrepresenting Paul Nash (TGA 7050/3157-58); and the presentation of Paul's incomplete chapter 'End of a World' (TGA 7050/3139-3142).Briefly mentions the relationship between John Rothenstein, Philip James and Herbert Read, and the possibilty of Read being chosen to represent the Arts Council in selecting Nash paintings for the Tate Memorial exhibition (TGA 7050/3131-33). Also includes a copy of a letter from Richard de la Mare, Faber & Faber to Herbert Read, re publishing 'Outline' and royalties (TGA 7050/3132); a copy of a letter from Herbert Read to Hartley Ramsden (TGA 7050/3139), and Herbert's 'Change of Address' card (TGA 7050/3162).

Related Material

Margaret's copy of the first edition of 'Outline' held in the Archive (TGA 964/1/22)

Corporate Names