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)
251. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, March 02, 1951
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, March 02, 1951
- 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. Frank Halliday, historian, is mentioned.
- Subject:
- Art movements, Poets, Art historians, Authors, English--Correspondence, Artists, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Women artists, Artists--Correspondence, Authors, English, Poets, English, and Authors
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1951-03-02
- 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 116-118
- Extent:
- 3 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 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: 8.61
- 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.
252. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, April 03, 1951
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, April 03, 1951
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Herbert Read from Joe Randolph "J. R." Ackerley (writer and literary editor of the BBC's weekly magazine The Listener). Ackerley discusses removing the word "monstrous" from a review written by Read.
- Subject:
- Literature, Modern, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Editors, Poets, Authors, English, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Authors, Authors, English--Correspondence, Poets, English, Modernism (Literature), Gay authors, and Art historians
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1951-04-03
- 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/JA 27-28
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 28.8 x 20.2 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Broadcasting Corporation
- Coordinates:
- 51.4975, -0.1357
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in blue ink. Letterhead from The Listener.
- 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: 8.1
- 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:
- 2021-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 10000XL at 600 DPI TIFF and images cropped & resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by SC.
253. Letter from Kathleen Raine to Herbert Read, September 25, 1951
- Title:
- Letter from Kathleen Raine to Herbert Read, September 25, 1951
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence from Kathleen Raine to Herbert Read. Raine was a British scholar and poet who was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 1992. The correspondence here follows Raine’s work on a book about William Blake’s mythology. Other topics include discussion of philosophical and metaphysical subjects, and references to acquaintances in literary and arts circles. In this letter Raine discusses an upcoming trip to America and mutual acquaintances.
- Subject:
- Raine, Kathleen, 1908-2003, Authors, Critics, Literature, Modern, Poets, Anarchists, Art historians, Philosophers, Modern, Modernism (Literature), Philosophers, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English, Authors, English--Correspondence, Scholars, and Poets, English
- Creator:
- Raine, Kathleen, 1908-2003
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1951-09-25
- 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/KR 9-12
- Extent:
- 4 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:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.40
- 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:
- 2022-10-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
254. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, January 06, 1952
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, January 06, 1952
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Adrian Stokes and Herbert Read spanning from 1934-1962. Stokes was a painter and art critic who also had an interest in psychoanalysis. It was largely due to his efforts and work that the small fishing port of St. Ives became a centre of modernist art culture. In this letter, Stokes thanks Read for responding to an inquiry, and writes that he is trying to write about Michelangelo.
- Subject:
- Poets, Authors, English, Anarchists, Art historians, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, English, Psychoanalysis, Painters, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, and Art critics
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1952-01-06
- 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/AS-18-19
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Guildford
- Coordinates:
- 51.23536, -0.57427
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in blue 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: 9.62
- 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.
255. Letter from Bertrand Russeell to Herbert Read, March 07, 1952
- Title:
- Letter from Bertrand Russeell to Herbert Read, March 07, 1952
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters between Herbert Read and Bertrand Russell (British mathematician, philosopher, and logician). In this letter Russell discusses how he detests the Franco regime in Spain and the political murders occurring there.
- Subject:
- Logicians, Modernism (Literature), Literature, Modern, Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970, Authors, English, Authors, Mathematicians, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Philosophers
- Creator:
- Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1952-03-07
- Rights Statement:
- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
- License:
- Digital publication made possible with permission from the Bertrand Russell Archives at McMaster University Library. and 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/BR 1-2
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 13.2 x 17.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Richmond (Richmond upon Thames)
- Coordinates:
- 51.41667, -0.33333
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typed, note handwritten in pencil on first page.
- 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: 9.47
- 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.
256. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, May 13, 1952
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, May 13, 1952
- 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 the layout of her book that Read will be writing the preface to. Reg Butlers is mentioned.
- Subject:
- Authors, English--Correspondence, Authors, Authors, English, Artists, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Art historians, Poets, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Women artists, Artists--Correspondence, Art movements, and Poets
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1952-05-13
- 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 119-122
- Extent:
- 4 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 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: 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.
257. Letter from Lewis Mumford to Herbert Read, June 07, 1952
- Title:
- Letter from Lewis Mumford to Herbert Read, June 07, 1952
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and Lewis Mumford (American historian, philosopher, and literary critic).
- Subject:
- Historians, Authors, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Modernism (Literature), Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990, Critics, Literature, Modern, and Philosophers
- Creator:
- Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1952-06-07
- 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:
- 61/134/1-61/134/2
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 14 x 21.8 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- New York (State)--Amenia
- Coordinates:
- 41.84926, -73.55679
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten, black ink, signed.
- 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: 10.121
- 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:
- 2021-10-22
- 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.
258. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, July 19, 1952
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, July 19, 1952
- 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 criticizes and suggests changes to the preface Read has written for her book.
- Subject:
- Authors, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Women artists, Authors, English--Correspondence, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art movements, Authors, Art historians, Artists--Correspondence, Artists, Poets, English, and Poets
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1952-07-19
- 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 123-136
- Extent:
- 14 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--St. Ives (Cornwall) and England--Cornwall (County)
- Coordinates:
- 50.20861, -5.4875 and 50.40303, -4.83416
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in blue ink and 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.
259. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, October 23, [1952?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, October 23, [1952?]
- 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 an advance copy of her book.
- Subject:
- Authors, English--Correspondence, Artists, Artists--Correspondence, Art historians, Poets, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Poets, English, Art movements, Women artists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English, and Authors
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1952?-10-23
- 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 137-139
- Extent:
- 3 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 blue 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: 8.61
- 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.
260. Letter from R.P Blackmur to Mrs. Read, December 12, 1952
- Title:
- Letter from R.P Blackmur to Mrs. Read, December 12, 1952
- Description:
- Correspondence between Mrs. Read and R. P. Blackmur (American literary critic and poet). Discusses Blackmur's visit with the Reads in England, his travels around York and Cambridge and plans for a future visit to the near east. Includes a reminder to Herbert Read to send the book Arabian Nights to Miss Cutter in Bologna.
- Subject:
- Poets, American, Authors, English, Modernism (Literature), Literature, Modern, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, Blackmur, R. P. (Richard P.), 1904-1965, and Critics
- Creator:
- Blackmur, R. P. (Richard P.), 1904-1965
- Contributor:
- Read, Margaret Ludwig, Lady and Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1952-12-12
- 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:
- 61/22/1-61/22-2
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 15.2 x 19.3 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- France--Paris
- Coordinates:
- 48.85341, 2.3488
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Letterhead from Hotel de Bourgogne et Montana in Paris.
- 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: 10.9
- 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:
- 2021-10-22
- 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.