That prose belongs to Foster Prevost, if I am not mistaken. Thanks for
sleuthing, Terry. tpr
zurch wrote:
> [Forwarded from Terry Krier]
>
> Hi all,
>
> *The Spenser Newsletter* 12, 1 (Winter 1981) noted "with pleasure
> the betrothal of Charles, the Prince of Wales, to a lady from a
> house of ancient fame, Lady Diana Spencer of the Spencers of
> Althorp: a blood relative, as we understand, of Phyllis, Charyllis,
> & Amaryllis."
>
> The next issue, 12, 2 (Spring/Summer 1981) noted that "with the
> concurrence of Thomas P. Roche, Jr., the following letter had been
> sent to Lady Diana Spencer:"
>
> Duquesne University
> Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219
> May 11, 1981
>
> Lady Diana Spencer
> Clarence House
> London W1, England
>
> Madam:
> On behalf of the *Spenser Newsletter* and on behalf of the
> Spenser Society, whose president is Thomas P. Roche, Jr., of
> Princeton University, I am pleased to send you under separate cover
> a copy of *The Illustrated "Faerie Queene,"* a modernized and
> handsomely appointed version of Edmund Spenser's allegorical epic
> written to honor Queen Elizabeth I. The presentation copy has been
> donated by Mr. Alvin Garfin of Newsweek Books, the publisher of the
> volume.
>
> As you know, Edmund Spenser claimed kin with the Spencers of
> Althorp, and in one of his poems entitled *Colin Clouts Come Home
> Againe* he celebrated Lady Elizabeth Carey, Lady Anne Compton and
> Mounteagle, and Lady Alice Strange, the second, fifth, and sixth
> daughters of Sir John Spencer of Althorp. He called these
> ladies--who were presumably your aunts (with many "greats"
> prefixed)--by the names "Phyllis, Charillis, and sweet Amaryllis"
> respectively.
>
> I hope you will enjoy perusing this artistic visual treatment
> of the epic poem by "the prince of poets in his time," who may have
> been a relative of yours. I speak for Spenser scholars everywhere in
> wishing you the best of good fortune.
> Faithfully yours,
> (Signed)
> Foster Provost
> Professor of English
> Editor *The Spenser Newsletter*
>
> >Dear All,
> >I vaguely recall a thread on the list from many years back which mentioned a
> >copy of a junior edition of The Faerie Queene that was presented to Princess
> >Diana in 1981 by the Spenser Society on the occasion of the royal
> >wedding. Does
> >anybody else by any chance remember/ know anything about this event, or am I
> >entirely misremembering this? (Eumnestes needs a little help here...)
> >Thanks greatly,
> >
> >Matt Woodcock
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