Rapunzel in Suburbia
Sydney, Prism, 1975.
Octavo, 92 (first four and last one blank), [4] (author's potted biography, blank verso, limitation page, blank verso) pages with an illustration (the author's portrait).
Cloth with contrasting leather title-labels on the front cover and spine; covers a little bowed and lightly marked; spine label lightly rubbed; an excellent copy.
Hewett's second collection of poetry; this is number 7 of only 100 copies of the 'hard bound autographed' edition; the balance of the print run comprised 900 unsigned paperbacks. Kate Tozer, reporting for the ABC on Hewett's death in 2002, commented that 'Dorothy Hewett's private life was thrust into the spotlight, when she was sued by her former husband, the lawyer and communist writer, Lloyd Davies. He described as libellous [the] poem, "The Uninvited Guest" included in her 1975 collection of poetry "Rapunzel in Suburbia"'. The offending poem was removed from the second edition of the book at Davies' insistence (and it's easy to see why he'd be offended); however, notes Trove, 'this edition was also suppressed owing to the libellous references made elsewhere in the book'. This may or may not have included the footnote to the dedication (which was to 'friends & lovers, sons & daughters'). The footnote states in part that 'I would also like to thank ... my husband, Merv Lilley, for his unfailing / failing love and support'. The recent disclosures from Hewett's daughters, and follow-up observations by her sons, put these sorts of comments into uncomfortable context.
Item #110222
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