The Autograph Manuscript Signed of His Poem "Cheated Elsie",.

Thompson, Francis.

About this Item

" Cheated Elsie" with a few revisions. Five Leaves, Quarto, written on one side only, unbound. Provenance, Sothebys 28th March 1960. ' this poem is printed in Thompson's Collected Works, vol. 1, page 316. Autograph manuscripts of Francis Thompson rarely occur for sale.' .'Elsie was a maiden fair as the sun shone upon: Born to teach her swains despair By smiling on them every one. Born to win all hearts to her Just because herself had none; All the day she had no care, For she was a maiden fair As the sun shone upon' .[Francis Thompson (16 December 1859 - 13 November 1907) studied medicine for nearly eight years at Owens College, now the University of Manchester. While excelling in essay writing, he took no interest in his medical studies, had a passion for poetry. He never practised as a doctor, and to escape the reproaches of his father he tried to enlist as a soldier but was rejected for his slightness of stature. Then in 1885 he fled, penniless to London, where he tried to make a living as a writer, in the meantime taking odd jobs, working for a bootmaker and booksellers, selling matches. During this time, he became addicted to opium, which he had first taken as medicine for ill health, having experienced a nervous breakdown while still in Manchester. He lived on the streets of Charing Cross and slept by the River Thames, with the homeless and other addicts. He was turned down by Oxford University, not because he was unqualified, but because of his addiction. He contemplated suicide in his nadir of despair, but was saved from completing the action through a vision which he believed to be that of a youthful poet Thomas Chatterton, who had committed suicide over a century earlier. A prostitute whose identity Thompson never revealed, befriended him and gave him lodgings. Thompson later described her in his poetry as his saviour. In 1888, after three years on the streets, he was 'discovered' after sending his poetry to the magazine Merrie England. He was sought out by the magazine's editors, Wilfrid and Alice Meynell, who recognised the value of his work. They took him into their home and, concerned about his opium addiction which was at its height following his years on the streets, sent him to Our Lady of England Priory, Storrington, for a couple of years. Francis wrote most of his poetry during this period from 1888 - 1897, after which he turned to writing prose. He struck up a good relationship with the Meynells who, parents and children, furnished inspiration for some of his poetry. They arranged for publication of his first book Poems in 1893. The book attracted the attention of sympathetic critics in the St James's Gazette and other newspapers, and Coventry Patmore wrote a eulogistic notice in the Fortnightly Review of January 1894. Francis' poem The Hound of Heaven was called by the Bishop of London "one of the most tremendous poems ever written," and by critics "the most wonderful lyric in the language," while the Times of London declared that people will still be learning it 200 years hence. His verse continued to elicit high praise from critics right up to his last volume in 1897.] 'Autograph manuscripts of Francis Thompson rarely occur for sale.'.

Seller Inventory # 1414

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Autograph Manuscript Signed of His Poem "Cheated Elsie",.
• Binding: No Binding
• Condition: Very Good