T S Eliot was right to single this poem out for
praise in The Egoist. It's a finely observed vignette, capturing
the essence of that most English of customs: five o'clock tea.
Harold Monro's poem first appeared in his collection "Children of
Love" published in 1914 by the Poetry Bookshop. Although Monro is
a name little heard today, the poem remains a favourite.
Bert Eastman, another favourite here at Incline
Press, agreed to illustrated the poem. His signed, four-colour
linocut aptly describes this teatime scene of simple desires
simply met: a crackling fire, tea, and for a cat, a satisfying
bowl of milk.
This book is the second in our series of poetic
type specimens. It is hand set in 18 point Lectura, designed by
the Dutch typographer Dick Dooijes and cast at the Stephenson
Blake Foundry. A little Columna ornaments the title page. The
paper is 200 gsm Velin Arches. We chose an original Elizabeth
Friedlander patterned paper from Curwen Press for the cased
binding done by hand in our Bow Street workshop.
A single-section book, 11 x 8 inches, it has been
printed in an edition of 180 numbered copies.
