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)
61. Letter from T.E. Lawrence to Herbert Read, March 26, 1929
- Title:
- Letter from T.E. Lawrence to Herbert Read, March 26, 1929
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and T. E. Lawrence (known as "Lawrence of Arabia", British archaeologist, military officer, and writer"). Lawrence discusses Read's review of "All Quiet on the Western Front" and his feelings about the book and how is compares to his experience as a soldier. Also included as an enclosure is the envelope.
- Subject:
- Authors, Authors, English, Literature, Modern, Modernism (Literature), Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Lawrence, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1888-1935
- Creator:
- Lawrence, T. E. (Thomas Edward), 1888-1935
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1929-03-26
- 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/TEL 2-3 and HR/TEL 3.01
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 19.8 x 25.8 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Plymouth and England--Mount Batten Point
- Coordinates:
- 50.358889, -4.13
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten, pencil. Signed as T. E. Shaw.
- 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: 9.9
- 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.
62. Letter from H. G. Wells to Herbert Read, April 05, 1929
- Title:
- Letter from H. G. Wells to Herbert Read, April 05, 1929
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence to Herbert Read from English writer H. G. Wells. Wells is most well known for his science fiction novels, but he also wrote biographies, history, social and political commentaries, and satire.
- Subject:
- Satirists, English, Art historians, Poets, English, Anarchists, Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946, Novelists, Satirists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English, Authors, Novelists, English, and Poets
- Creator:
- Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1929-04-05
- 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/HGW-5
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Great Dunmow
- Coordinates:
- 51.87335, 0.36409
- 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: 9.76
- 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.
63. Letter from Eric Gill to Herbert Read, October 19, 1929
- Title:
- Letter from Eric Gill to Herbert Read, October 19, 1929
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence from Eric Gill to Sir Herbert Read. Gill was a renowned early 20th century English printmaker, typeface designer, and sculptor. In this letter Gill responds to an invitation to lunch with Read and "Mr. Goldsmith" and "Mr. Lambert". He also mentions a recent article of Read's and debates the public function of artists. A penciled note signed H.R. on the bottom of the page says the invitation was the first step in approaching Gill to create a sculpture for "the new Broadcasting House".
- Subject:
- Art historians, Anarchists, Artists' books, Poets, English, Poets, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Sculptors, Printmakers, Gill, Eric, 1882-1940, Artists, and Authors
- Creator:
- Gill, Eric, 1882-1940
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1929-10-19
- 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/EG-1-2
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--High Wycombe
- Coordinates:
- 51.62907, -0.74934
- 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: 8.47
- 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.
64. Letter from Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson to Herbert Read, February 27 [1930?]
- Title:
- Letter from Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson to Herbert Read, February 27 [1930?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson (British political scientist and philosopher, associated with the Bloomsbury Group).
- Subject:
- Dickinson, G. Lowes (Goldsworthy Lowes), 1862-1932, Authors, Philosophers, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Political scientists, Authors, English, Literature, Modern, and Modernism (Literature)
- Creator:
- Dickinson, G. Lowes (Goldsworthy Lowes), 1862-1932
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930-02-27?
- 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/LD 7
- Extent:
- 1 page ; 20.2 x 25.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cambridge
- Coordinates:
- 52.204486, 0.117253
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typescript, signed.
- 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: 8.29
- 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.
65. Letter from Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson to Herbert Read, March 02, [1930?]
- Title:
- Letter from Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson to Herbert Read, March 02, [1930?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson (British political scientist and philosopher, associated with the Bloomsbury Group). Lowes Dickinson discusses his mixed opinions on Read's book about Wordsworth.
- Subject:
- Philosophers, Dickinson, G. Lowes (Goldsworthy Lowes), 1862-1932, Literature, Modern, Authors, Political scientists, Modernism (Literature), Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Dickinson, G. Lowes (Goldsworthy Lowes), 1862-1932
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930-03-02?
- 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/LD 8-9
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 20.2 x 25.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cambridge
- Coordinates:
- 52.204486, 0.117253
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typescript, 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: 8.29
- 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.
66. Letter from Harold Monro to Herbert Read, June 26, 1930
- Title:
- Letter from Harold Monro to Herbert Read, June 26, 1930
- Description:
- A letter to Sir Herbert Read from Harold Monro, poet, publisher, editor, and owner of The Poetry Bookshop, in which a disgruntled Monro reflects on a meeting with the 'Criterion Club' the evening before.
- Subject:
- Periodical editors, Poets, Poets, English, Art historians, Authors, English, Bookstore owners, Anarchists, Monro, Harold, 1879-1932, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Authors
- Creator:
- Monro, Harold, 1879-1932
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930-06-26
- 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:
- 61/131/1
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.50853, -0.12574
- 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: 10.118
- 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.
67. Letter from J. J. Thomson to Herbert Read, October 28, 1930
- Title:
- Letter from J. J. Thomson to Herbert Read, October 28, 1930
- Description:
- A letter to Herbert Read from Nobel Prize-winning physicist J. J. Thomson, who is credited with the first discovery of a subatomic particle: the electron. In this note, Thomson passes along his and his wife's thanks for the copy of "Wordsworth" sent to them by Read.
- Subject:
- Poets, English, Physicists, Art historians, Thomson, J. J. (Joseph John), 1856-1940, Authors, Anarchists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English, and Poets
- Creator:
- Thomson, J. J. (Joseph John), 1856-1940
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930-10-28
- 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:
- 61/210/1
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cambridge
- Coordinates:
- 52.2, 0.11667
- 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: 11.47
- 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.
68. Letter from A.J. Finberg to Herbert Read, December 02, 1930
- Title:
- Letter from A.J. Finberg to Herbert Read, December 02, 1930
- Description:
- This letter is from Alexander Joseph Finberg, art historian, art critic, and author who founded the Walpole Society in 1911, to encourage the study of British Art. In this letter, Finberg thanks Read for a favourable review of his book, and expresses his appreciation for Read's view of the painter J.M.W. Turner as a "giant" among English artists.
- Subject:
- Poets, English, Art critics, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, Authors, English, Art historians, Anarchists, Finberg, A. J. (Alexander Joseph), 1866-1939, and Authors
- Creator:
- Finberg, A. J. (Alexander Joseph), 1866-1939
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1930-12-02
- 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:
- 61/64/1-2
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.50853, -0.12574
- 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: 10.51
- 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.
69. Letter from A.E. Housman to Herbert Read, November 20, 1931
- Title:
- Letter from A.E. Housman to Herbert Read, November 20, 1931
- Description:
- A letter from poet and eminent classical scholar A. E. Housman to Sir Herbert Read, regarding an article in a book of English prose.
- Subject:
- Housman, A. E. (Alfred Edward), 1859-1936, Poets, Authors, Classicists, Poets, English, Authors, English, Scholars, Anarchists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Art historians
- Creator:
- Housman, A. E. (Alfred Edward), 1859-1936
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1931-11-20
- 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/AEH
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cambridge
- Coordinates:
- 52.2, 0.11667
- 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: 8.65
- 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.
70. Letter from Roger Fry to Herbert Read, August 30, 1933
- Title:
- Letter from Roger Fry to Herbert Read, August 30, 1933
- Description:
- Correspondence between Herbert Read and Roger Fry (English painter, critic, and member of the Bloomsbury Group). Fry and Read discuss "the Burlington". Includes typed reply from Read.
- Subject:
- Literature, Modern, Art, Modern, Modernism (Literature), Authors, Artists, Modernism (Art), Fry, Roger, 1866-1934, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art critics, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Fry, Roger, 1866-1934
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1933-08-30
- 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/RF 1-2 and HR/RF Encl.01-Encl.02
- Extent:
- 4 pages ; 20.2 x 25.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.523205, -0.125004
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten, 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: 8.44
- 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 Plustek OpticBookA300 at 600 DPI Tiff, images cropped and resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by KD.