Anthony Boden - Stars in a Dark Night: the Letters of Ivor Gurney to the Chapman Family

Stars in a Dark Night: the Letters of Ivor Gurney to the Chapman Family

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Stars in a Dark Night is a completely new and expanded second edition, which restores to print the first published collection of letters which Gurney wrote from the Western Front. Although the facts of Gurney’s life are undeniably tragic, he managed to find great enjoyment in his friendships. That aspect of his life remained in the shadows as no documentary evidence had been found to support it, but the discovery of his letters to the Chapman family restores the balance. These letters give us a previously unrevealed insight into the courage, humour and warmth of his personality in the precious years prior to 1922 after which Gurney was committed to an asylum until his death. ‘Stars in a Dark Night’ is Gurney’s own description of the Chapmans’ letters to him during the war. This unique and powerful collection of letters is fully complemented with photographs, documents and manuscript pieces.

Format: Paperback, 224 pages (9 May 2004)
Publisher: Sutton Publishing
Language: English
Edition: 2nd
ISBN: 0750934670
Categories: Biography, Poetry, Music, History
Links: www.ivor.gurney.net
Print: In Print (available from all good bookshops)
Purchase: www.amazon.co.uk, www.abebooks.co.uk

'A delightful Book, which is a small breath of period atmosphere. These letters show him happy and determined to remain happy.'

THE SPECTATOR

'An important addition to the Gurney canon.'

STAND TO!

'By putting together picture, poem, manuscript music, letters and biography, this book manages to catch the sense of variety that one finds in the Gurney collection in Gloucester, and at the same time to present a more approachable version of Gurney the man than we have seen before.'

PN REVIEW

'Boden has developed the [2nd edition] volume into a more complete look at the composer’s life . . . The volume is studded with examples of Gurney’s haunting poetry.'

CLASSICAL MUSIC

The Ivor Gurney Lecture: 'A Child of Joy'

A film made at the Three Choirs Festival, Gloucester 2004. By Anthony Boden with readings by Joanna O’Connor and James Baker.

A permanent record of a critically acclaimed lecture on the life and work of dually-gifted poet and composer Ivor Gurney (1890-1937), given at St Mary de Lode Church, Gloucester, on 12th August 2004 as part of the Three Choirs Festival. The recording includes photographs and film of many of the people and places known to Gurney, as well as recordings of a selection of his songs and piano music. It is available in DVD or videotape format.

Format: DVD / Videotape
Producer: MWC Video Productions
Language: English
Categories: Biography, Poetry, Music, History
Links: www.ivor.gurney.net
Price: £12.00 (P&P £2.50)
Purchase: Order form (PDF)