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)
271. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, Monday, [November, 1954]
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, Monday, [November, 1954]
- 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 talks about his protagonist Johnny in his manuscript and homosexuality.
- Subject:
- Literature, Modern, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Modernism (Literature), Poets, English, Authors, English--Correspondence, Authors, English, Gay authors, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Art historians, Editors, and Poets
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1954-11?
- 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 33-37
- Extent:
- 5 pages ; 28.8 x 20.2 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London--Putney
- Coordinates:
- 51.46072, -0.21814
- 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: 8.1
- 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.
272. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, November 03, 1954
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, November 03, 1954
- 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 asks for Read's absolute frankness when Read reviews his manuscript.
- Subject:
- Poets, English, Art historians, Editors, Gay authors, Poets, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Modernism (Literature), Literature, Modern, Authors, English--Correspondence, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1954-11-03
- 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 31-32
- 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:
- letters (correspondence) and 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.
273. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, December 21, [1954?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, December 21, [1954?]
- 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 encloses a photo of her son Paul's memorial sculpture.
- Subject:
- Women artists, Art historians, Artists, Authors, English, Art movements, Artists--Correspondence, Authors, Poets, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Poets, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Authors, English--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1954?-12-21
- 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 156-158
- Extent:
- 3 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 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.
274. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, August 13, 1955
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, August 13, 1955
- 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 discusses Italian art and sculpture, carving, and Transcendentalism.
- Subject:
- Art historians, Authors, Poets, Poets, English, Painters, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Psychoanalysis, Art critics, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, Authors, English, and Anarchists
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1955-08-13
- 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-20-21
- 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:
- correspondence and letters (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.
275. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, October 20, 1955
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, October 20, 1955
- 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 sending him a book, and tells Read about his book process.
- Subject:
- Anarchists, Art historians, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, Poets, Authors, English, Painters, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, English, Authors, Art critics, and Psychoanalysis
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1955-10-20
- 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-22-23
- 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:
- correspondence and letters (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.
276. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, November 23 [1955?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, November 23 [1955?]
- 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 accepts Read's invitation to have her sculpture titled "Head" included in his book.
- Subject:
- Women artists, Art movements, Artists, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English--Correspondence, Artists--Correspondence, Poets, Poets, English, Authors, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, and Art historians
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1955?-11-23
- 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 159-161
- 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 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.
277. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, November 24, [1955?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, November 24, [1955?]
- 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 Douglas Cooper's letter in reference to Henry Moore in The Listener magazine.
- Subject:
- Artists, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Authors, English--Correspondence, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, Artists--Correspondence, Women artists, Poets, English, Art movements, Poets, Art historians, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1955?-11-24
- 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 162
- Extent:
- 1 page
- 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:
- 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.
278. Letter from Jonathan Griffin to Herbert Read, November 30, 1955
- Title:
- Letter from Jonathan Griffin to Herbert Read, November 30, 1955
- Description:
- One of a pair of letters to Sir Herbert Read from British writer and translator Jonathan Griffin. In this letter Griffin praises Read's work and gives good news of his own work.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Griffin, Jonathan, 1906-1990, Art historians, Authors, Poets, English, Anarchists, Translators, Poets, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Griffin, Jonathan, 1906-1990
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1955-11-30
- 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:
- 61/77/1-2
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Berkshire
- Coordinates:
- 51.5, -1.25
- 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: 10.64
- 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.
279. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, December 26,1955
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, December 26,1955
- 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 writes about buying himself a copy of Read's "Moon's Farm" for Christmas, poetry, and the relationship between art and culture.
- Subject:
- Art critics, Poets, Poets, English, Painters, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, Anarchists, Authors, Art historians, and Psychoanalysis
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1955-12-26
- 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-24-27
- Extent:
- 4 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:
- correspondence and letters (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.
280. Enclosures regarding war poet Siegfried Sassoon's complaint against a review in The Listener, [1956]
- Title:
- Enclosures regarding war poet Siegfried Sassoon's complaint against a review in The Listener, [1956]
- 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).
- Subject:
- Editors, Authors, English--Correspondence, Poets, Modernism (Literature), Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Gay authors, Poets, English, Art historians, Authors, English, and Literature, Modern
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Sassoon, Siegfried, 1886-1967, Thomas, Alan, and Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Contributor:
- Thomas, Alan, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Sassoon, Siegfried, 1886-1967
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1956
- 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 39 Encl. 01-12
- Extent:
- 12 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.50853, -0.12574
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten and typed.
- 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.