Herbert Read Collection
User Collection Public
Sir Herbert Edward Read (1893-1968) was a poet, art historian, anarchist, literary critic, philosopher, prolific author, and champion of modern artists in Britain.
This collection consists of his correspondence with many important and influential individuals including Barbara Hepworth, T. S. Eliot, George Orwell among many others.
For more information and a complete list of correspondents, please visit the Special Collections fonds: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/07631c3d-47fa-4d81-893c-4c72e8feb6ed
Collection Details
- Items 383
- Last Updated 2025-08-05
Parent Collections (2)
Subcollections (1)
There are no visible subcollections.
Works (382)
121. Letter from Leo Myers to Herbert Read, December 05, 1940
- Title:
- Letter from Leo Myers to Herbert Read, December 05, 1940
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters from British novelist Leo Myers to Sir Herbert Read. The letters primarily discuss the writing and reception of poetry. In this letter, Myers discusses Read's poetry and his thoughts on his own writing. Myers also writes that he sends his poems to Lilian Bowes Lyon, whom he thinks is a good poet herself.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, English, Novelists, English, Novelists, Myers, L. H. (Leopold Hamilton), 1881-1944, Poetry, Poets, Authors, English, Authors, Anarchists, and Art historians
- Creator:
- Myers, L. H. (Leopold Hamilton), 1881-1944
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940-12-05
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/LM-4-5
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London--Whitehall
- Coordinates:
- 51.5042, -0.1264
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.27
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
122. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, December 08 [1940?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, December 08 [1940?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Dame Barbara Hepworth (English artist and sculptor and, along with Read, a member of the modern art movement Unit One founded by Paul Nash), that span the time period of 1940 to 1965 and discuss their artistic and literary endeavors, philosophical and political views, and personal lives. Hepworth receives Read's new book and discusses "romantic" and "classical".
- Subject:
- Art movements, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Authors, English, Poets, Art historians, Poets, English, Women artists, Artists, Artists--Correspondence, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, and Authors, English--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940?-12-08
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Writings by Barbara Hepworth © Bowness. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/BH 14-21
- Extent:
- 8 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cornwall (County) and England--St. Ives (Cornwall)
- Coordinates:
- 50.40303, -4.83416 and 50.20861, -5.4875
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in pencil.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.61
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2010-06-15
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by SC.
123. Letter from Michael Sadler to Herbert Read, December 16, 1940
- Title:
- Letter from Michael Sadler to Herbert Read, December 16, 1940
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Michael E. Sadler. Sadler was a historian and educationalist who worked most of his career in university of administration. He was a champion of the English public school system, and also spent time as the president of the Leeds Arts Club.
- Subject:
- Anarchists, Authors, Sadler, Michael, Sir, 1861-1943, Art historians, Poets, English, Poets, Historians, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Educators
- Creator:
- Sadler, Michael, Sir, 1861-1943
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940-12-16
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/MES-27
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75315, -1.23854
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.5
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
124. Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, December 17, 1940
- Title:
- Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, December 17, 1940
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Sir Herbert Read and British poet Lilian Bowes Lyon. In addition to writing, Bowes Lyon was heavily involved in volunteer work in both World Wars. She also lived with Buerger’s Disease, which required her to have multiple amputations, and lead to her early death in 1949. In this letter, Bowes Lyon thanks Read for sending her the book "Ode to Rhetoric" and wishes him a happy Christmas.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art historians, Poetry, Authors, English, Poets, English, Authors, Poets, Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949, and Anarchists
- Creator:
- Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940-12-17
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/LBL-1
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75315, -1.23854
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.8
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
125. Letter from Leo Myers to Herbert Read, [1941?]
- Title:
- Letter from Leo Myers to Herbert Read, [1941?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters from British novelist Leo Myers to Sir Herbert Read. The letters primarily discuss the writing and reception of poetry. In this letter, Myers writes of buying up all the remaining copies he can find of a book, and of a difference of opinion with Graham Greene.
- Subject:
- Poets, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Novelists, English, Anarchists, Myers, L. H. (Leopold Hamilton), 1881-1944, Authors, English, Authors, Novelists, Poetry, Poets, English, and Art historians
- Creator:
- Myers, L. H. (Leopold Hamilton), 1881-1944
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1941?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/LM-8-9
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.27
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
126. Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, January 09, 1941
- Title:
- Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, January 09, 1941
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Sir Herbert Read and British poet Lilian Bowes Lyon. In addition to writing, Bowes Lyon was heavily involved in volunteer work in both World Wars. She also lived with Buerger’s Disease, which required her to have multiple amputations, and lead to her early death in 1949. In this letter, Bowes Lyon thanks Read for helping to get her poems published and says they are also to be printed elsewhere. She then asks Read for his opinion on a poem she's written (not included), explaining her thoughts and concerns about parts that might not be clear.
- Subject:
- Poets, Poetry, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Anarchists, Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949, Art historians, Poets, English, and Authors
- Creator:
- Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1941-01-09
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/LBL-2-4
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75315, -1.23854
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.8
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
127. Letter from William Plomer to Herbert Read, January 14, 1941
- Title:
- Letter from William Plomer to Herbert Read, January 14, 1941
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and William Plomer (South African and British novelist, poet, and literary editor). Plomer is responding to Read about his response to Plomer's review and talks about how hard it is to change people's minds.
- Subject:
- Literature, Modern, Poets, Poets, South African, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Modernism (Literature), Authors, English, Poets, English, Plomer, William, 1903-1973, Gay authors, and Novelists
- Creator:
- Plomer, William, 1903-1973
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1941-01-14
- Rights Statement:
- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/WP 1-4
- Extent:
- 4 pages ; 11.5 x 17.8 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.525433, -0.182031
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten, signed, blue/purple ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.37
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2021-10-20
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBookA300 at 600 DPI Tiff, images cropped and resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by KD.
128. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, January 15, 1941
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, January 15, 1941
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Dame Barbara Hepworth (English artist and sculptor and, along with Read, a member of the modern art movement Unit One founded by Paul Nash), that span the time period of 1940 to 1965 and discuss their artistic and literary endeavors, philosophical and political views, and personal lives. Hepworth discusses children's drawings.
- Subject:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Art historians, Art movements, Women artists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English--Correspondence, Artists--Correspondence, Authors, English, Artists, Authors, Poets, English, and Poets
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1941-01-15
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Writings by Barbara Hepworth © Bowness. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/BH 22-29
- Extent:
- 8 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--St. Ives (Cornwall) and England--Cornwall (County)
- Coordinates:
- 50.40303, -4.83416 and 50.20861, -5.4875
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in pencil.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.61
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2010-06-15
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by SC.
129. Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, January 19, 1941
- Title:
- Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, January 19, 1941
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Sir Herbert Read and British poet Lilian Bowes Lyon. In addition to writing, Bowes Lyon was heavily involved in volunteer work in both World Wars. She also lived with Buerger’s Disease, which required her to have multiple amputations, and lead to her early death in 1949. In this letter, Bowes Lyon thanks Read for offering criticism of her poem and politely declines to take his suggestions on the grounds that she lacks the energy to make any changes. She also describes her work at a communal kitchen visited each day by mothers and children from Coventry.
- Subject:
- Poets, English, Authors, English, Art historians, Anarchists, Poetry, Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949, Poets, Authors, and Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Creator:
- Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1941-01-19
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/LBL-5-6
- Extent:
- 3 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75315, -1.23854
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.8
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
130. Letter from Leo Myers to Herbert Read, January 22, 1941
- Title:
- Letter from Leo Myers to Herbert Read, January 22, 1941
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters from British novelist Leo Myers to Sir Herbert Read. The letters primarily discuss the writing and reception of poetry. In this letter Myers gives his thoughts about a review written about a book of Read's.
- Subject:
- Authors, Anarchists, Poetry, Novelists, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, English, Poets, Authors, English, Myers, L. H. (Leopold Hamilton), 1881-1944, Art historians, and Novelists
- Creator:
- Myers, L. H. (Leopold Hamilton), 1881-1944
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1941-01-22
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/LM-6-7
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.27
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.