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)
141. Letter from Paul Nash to Herbert Read, [1942?]
- Title:
- Letter from Paul Nash to Herbert Read, [1942?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and Paul Nash (British surrealist painter, printmaker, war artist, and older brother to Paul Nash).
- Subject:
- Artists, Nash, Paul, 1889-1946, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Modernism (Literature), Authors, English, Modernism (Art), and Literature, Modern
- Creator:
- Nash, Paul, 1889-1946
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942?
- 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/PN 10-11
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 13.5 x 17.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75222, -1.25596
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten, pencil, signed, vertically folded.
- 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: 9.28
- 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:
- 2021-10-21
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 10000XL at 600 DPI TIFF, images cropped & resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by KD.
142. Letter from Edmund Blunden to Herbert Read, February 17, 1942
- Title:
- Letter from Edmund Blunden to Herbert Read, February 17, 1942
- Description:
- Correspondence between Herbert Read and Edmund Blunden (English poet, writer, and critic). Blunden thanks Read for his opinion on his account of Hardy and discusses the war.
- Subject:
- Authors, Literature, Modern, Authors, English, Blunden, Edmund, 1896-1974, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Modernism (Literature), and Critics
- Creator:
- Blunden, Edmund, 1896-1974
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942-02-17
- 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
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 17.6 x 11 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75222, -1.25596
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten, signed. Letterhead from Merton College, Oxford.
- 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: 8.6
- 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:
- 2021-11-09
- 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.
143. Letter from Josiah Wedgwood to Herbert Read, March 07, 1942
- Title:
- Letter from Josiah Wedgwood to Herbert Read, March 07, 1942
- Description:
- One of a pair of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Josiah C. Wedgwood, the first Baron Wedgwood. Wedgwood served the British government as a Liberal and Labour politician. In this letter, Wedgwood regrets that Read may have spent a boring evening in the area and invites him to come visit another time. Wedgwood expresses a desire to know what Read has been working on in regards to education, and while discussing the advantages and disadvantages of his position, writes that sometimes he wishes he could give it all up to be an "unfettered thinker" again.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Nobility, Authors, Politicians, Anarchists, Legislators, Authors, English, Poets, English, Art historians, Wedgwood, Josiah C. (Josiah Clement), 1872-1943, and Poets
- Creator:
- Wedgwood, Josiah C. (Josiah Clement), 1872-1943
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942-03-07
- 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/JW
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Staffordshire
- Coordinates:
- 52.8577, -2.03686
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black and blue 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: 9.75
- 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.
144. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Wednesday, April 08 [1942?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Wednesday, April 08 [1942?]
- 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 comments on Read's article for Horizon: A Review of Literature and Art magazine.
- Subject:
- Authors, English--Correspondence, Poets, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Authors, English, Art movements, Artists, Artists--Correspondence, Poets, Women artists, Art historians, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Authors
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942?-04-08
- 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 36-48
- Extent:
- 13 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cornwall (County) and England--St. Ives (Cornwall)
- Coordinates:
- 50.20861, -5.4875 and 50.40303, -4.83416
- 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.
145. Letter from D'Arcy W. Thompson to Herbert Read, May 03, 1942
- Title:
- Letter from D'Arcy W. Thompson to Herbert Read, May 03, 1942
- Description:
- A letter to Sir Herbert Read from Sir D’Arcy W. Thompson, a Scottish mathematician, scientist, and classics scholar. In this letter, Thompson discusses the second edition of his book "On Growth and Form", the nature of publishing and its (lack of) profits for the author.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, English, Art historians, Thompson, D'Arcy Wentworth, 1860-1948, Classicists, Biologists, Authors, Zoologists, Anarchists, Authors, English, Mathematicians, and Poets
- Creator:
- Thompson, D'Arcy Wentworth, 1860-1948
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942-05-03
- 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/D'AT
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- Scotland--St. Andrews
- Coordinates:
- 56.33871, -2.79902
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typewritten.
- 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: 9.69
- 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.
146. Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, September 10, 1942
- Title:
- Letter from Lilian Bowes Lyon to Herbert Read, September 10, 1942
- 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 apologizes for being unable to help someone get an exemption from part-time work, and explains the factors against it. In a post-script she suggests they might try to get U.S.S.R papers instead of White Russian.
- Subject:
- Art historians, Authors, English, Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949, Poets, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, Poetry, Anarchists, and Poets
- Creator:
- Bowes-Lyon, Lilian Helen, 1895-1949
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942-09-10
- 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-7-8
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England
- Coordinates:
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 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.
147. Letter from J. M. Robertson to Herbert Read, December 09, 1942
- Title:
- Letter from J. M. Robertson to Herbert Read, December 09, 1942
- Description:
- In this letter to Herbert Read from University of Glasgow chemist J. M. Robertson, Robertson grants Read permission to use an illustration of a plantinum phthalocyanine molecule, and notes where Read may be able to find similar illustrations.
- Subject:
- Authors, English, Anarchists, Chemists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Robertson, J. M., Authors, Art historians, Poets, and Poets, English
- Creator:
- Robertson, J. M.
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1942-12-09
- 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
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- Scotland--Glasgow and England--Beaconsfield
- Coordinates:
- 51.61219, -0.64732 and 55.86515, -4.25763
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typewritten.
- 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: 2.7
- 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.
148. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Thursday and Friday, [1943?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Thursday and Friday, [1943?]
- 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. Discusses children's art.
- Subject:
- Authors, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, English, Art movements, Artists--Correspondence, Poets, Authors, English--Correspondence, Women artists, Artists, and Art historians
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943?
- 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 62-70
- Extent:
- 9 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.
149. Letter from Michael Hamburger to Herbert Read, [1943]
- Title:
- Letter from Michael Hamburger to Herbert Read, [1943]
- Description:
- In this letter, Michael Hamburger writes about his own poetry, sharing the criticism T.S. Eliot had of it, and muses on the capacity of a poet to change how they write. Hamburger was a poet, critic, and translator. He also held a number of academic positions at a number of English and American universities throughout his career.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Hamburger, Michael, Philosophers, Modern, Anarchists, Philosophers, Art historians, and Translators
- Creator:
- Hamburger, Michael
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943?
- 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:
- 61/82/1-6
- Extent:
- 6 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.50853, -0.12574
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 10.69
- 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:
- 2023-04-18
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC
150. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, January 12 [1943?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, January 12 [1943?]
- 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. The Design Unit is mentioned.
- Subject:
- Authors, English, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Artists--Correspondence, Art movements, Artists, Art historians, Authors, English--Correspondence, Women artists, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Poets, English, and Poets
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1943?-01-12
- 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 55-61
- Extent:
- 7 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:
- letters (correspondence) and 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.