Brian Hubber and Vivian Smith. Patrick White: A Bibliography.
Gordon-Craig, C.
Brian Hubber and Vivian Smith. Patrick White: A Bibliography.
Auburn, Australia and New Castle, Del.: Quiddlers Press and Oak Knoll
Press, 2004. 322 pp.; AUD $95.00/US $95.00. ISBN: 0958194920
(Australia); 1584561432 (US).
Patrick White (1912-90), Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1973
and the first Australian to achieve that honour, was a novelist,
short-story writer, playwright, and poet, with a substantial canon of
writing to his credit. Inevitably, his international recognition and
acclaim spurred a complex variety of diverse editions and translations
for which a key index is needed to establish relative priorities in
texts and printings. This new bibliography by Brian Hubber and Vivian
Smith is competently prepared, amply complete, sparklingly printed, and
thoroughly researched. As a vital addition to White scholarship, it is a
necessary adjunct to every collection concerned with Australian
literature.
Superseding an early bibliography from the Fryer Memorial Library
of Australian Literature in 1962 (with supplements), previous
classifications of White's writings were compiled by Janette H.
Finch for the Libraries Board of South Australia in 1966; and by Alan
Lawson as the first in a projected series of Australian bibliographies
in 1974. These have their own limitations, not the least of which was
that the subject author of their studies was still very much alive and
writing. Finch's booklet is a checklist covering what was published
to that point, variant editions, and some translations. It does add
useful sections of reviews, critical articles, biographical notes, lists
of portraits, photographs, and illustrators. Man Lawson's volume
takes a slightly different approach. Following the expected checklist of
White's books, editions, and translations, there is a section of
references on White himself, but then the major portion of the small
volume is devoted to secondary, critical material. Naturally, Brian
Hubber and Vivian Smith acknowledge all these previous works in their
"Introduction."
This attractive latest bibliography, handsomely printed in
Australia, is a splendidly satisfying piece visually. The design,
utilizing a clear typeface and reasonable margins (bibliographers like
ample margins for annotations), a well chosen sturdy paper, and firmly
sewn gatherings in a serviceable binding, complete with imitation
headbands, both attracts the user and promises long service. For a fully
descriptive bibliography, the content appears to have been painstakingly
compiled. As the "Introduction" tells us, "The body of
the bibliography consists of 27 'chapters,'" each devoted
to a single book. Essentially, each "chapter" treats a
discrete work in its first published manifestation.
The entries conform to a standard concatenated classification
system using alphabetically and numerically coded references for
editions, sub-editions, and issues: For example, H.t7c for the German
first edition, third issue, of Riders in the Chariot. Full
bibliographical descriptions are provided, including collations using,
where required, conventional formulae. Diplomatic transcripts of the
title-pages are followed by summaries of the contents.
The specifics given of individual bindings and dust-jackets,
aspects sometimes omitted from otherwise wide-ranging bibliographies,
are particularly appreciated. It is to be regretted that reproductions
of the dust-jackets could not be included, and one ponders the extent to
which such a desirable feature would have affected the already
substantial price of the volume. Scholars are, however, stoic (but not
insensitive) to the prices of bibliographies, and accept that the costs
of typesetting technical material are high, combined with the prospect
of low production numbers for a specialist market.
Other sections of these entries provide publication details (dates
of publication, prices, and sizes of print runs where known), and a list
of reviews on the books' first appearances. At the end of each
entry, there is a useful set of extra references on locations of copies.
Predictably, these seem based on Australian libraries. Frequently, the
slightly maddening tag "Personal collection" appears, and the
compilers are scrupulous in providing a reference when they have not
seen a copy.
Especially valuable are the short essays provided as prefaces to
each chapter. Authoritative in the information mined for them, these
have notes on the genesis of each work, printing production details, and
excerpts from White's letters commenting on choices of designs and
the selection of artists for dust-jackets: "White was sensitive to
the physical appearance of his books." Together with accounts of
the books' critical reception, the essays are rounded out with
statements on translations and, in some places, on the disposition of
film rights and other initiatives such as the opera made from Voss.
These prefaces serve an additional function in providing insights into
White's personality, a refreshingly different touch that seldom
emerges from the often dispassionate style of a bibliography. The
translator of the Swedish edition of The Solid Mandala, for example,
sent White "enquiries about lamb's fry, mutton flaps, and
shower teas" to which "White replied patiently ... with care
and precision. Dealing with translations was a happy chore; White
wondered about the mistakes made by translators who did not ask
questions."
Seven appendices range from lists of composition and publication
details on the poetry, plays and their productions, and short stories,
followed by listings of musical adaptations, "miscellaneous and
occasional pieces," translations, and locations of manuscripts.
What more could one want from so comprehensive an author
bibliography? The work does not pretend to move towards secondary,
critical material (other than the sections of early reviews) which would
plainly involve a vastly separate (and never-ending) undertaking.
Generously expansive within its self-imposed focus on primary material,
this volume includes Braille editions, sound recordings, and even radio
broadcasts.
A couple of tiny typos were noticed ("immitation,"
"descendent"): insignificant indeed, though in a work of such
technical complexity one tends to worry what other accidentals may lie
lurking. But this is a trifling quibble when set against the massively
daunting challenge of the whole project. Overall, the work is admirable
in its conception, aims, goals, and achievement. Bibliographers enjoy
reading bibliographies, and this volume not only fulfils its promise to
us, but also at the same time is engaging enough in its inclusion of
details to capture the interest of those who may want to know more about
White and his writings.
C. GORDON-CRAIG
University of Alberta
