I was lost and I did not expect to be found again. For the first time in my life I was alone in a world whose behaviour I could neither predict or fathom: a world of birds that squealed, of plants that stank, of insects that sprang about without warning. High overhead ran frenzied larks, screaming, as though the sky were tearing apart.įor the first time in my life I was out of the sight of humans. Snow-clouds of elder-blossom banked in the sky, showering upon me the fumes and flakes of their sweet and giddy suffocation. A tropic heat oozed up from the ground, rank with sharp odours of roots and nettles. I was lost and didn’t know where to move. It was knife-edged, dark and a wicked green, thick as a forest and alive with grasshoppers that chirped and chattered and leapt through the air like monkeys. It towered above me and all around me, each blade tattooed with tiger-skins of sunlight. I had never been so close to grass before. The June grass, amongst which I stood, was taller than I was, and I wept. Rare with this letter and a nice package.I was set down from the carrier’s cart at the age of three and there with a sense of bewilderment and terror my life in the village began. In this respect, the recipient is particularly interesting – Michael Rubinstein was a lawyer specialising in publishing and literary matters, particularly concerning libel – and it was Rubinstein who was instructed to act for The Hogarth Press over the famous fire at the piano factory’ passages in Lee’s Cider With Rosie in 1960 which resulted in Lee having to pay substantial personal damages, and passages in the 1959 first edition of the book being amended.

Note he spells Rubinstein incorrectly as Rubenstein – in context a telling metaphoric betrayal of Lee’s reputation for not always presenting his facts’ with 100% accuracy. He writes to Michael RubInstein, dated 3 February 1986, offering his support for an applicant (Regie Sloane?) for membership to the celebrated Garrick Club. Comes with a handwritten letter (ALS) in Lees trademark felt-tip on his headed notepaper from 9/40 Elm Park Gardens, Chelsea, London. A near fine book with some spotting to the page edges, in a near fine wrapper which is unclipped. A first edition, first printing published by The Hogarth Press in 1959.

Cider with rosie by laurie lee