Critic, Editor, Translator
Richard Aldington
Literary Studies and Reviews
London, George Allen and Unwin, 1923
Includes reviews from The Times Literary Supplement, The Criterion, The Monthly ChapBook, The New Statesman, The English Review, The New York Post Literary Review and The Dial, illustrating the range of journals that Aldington was reviewing for. The table of contents illustrates the breadth of Aldington’s scholarship, particularly in French literature.
Carlo Goldini, Richard Aldington (Translator)
The Good-Humoured Ladies
Introduction by Arthur Symons
Illustrated by Ethelbert White
London, Beaumont Press, 1922
This was the 15th publication of Cyril Beaumont’s Beaumont Press and was limited to 475 numbered copies. This copy is one of six extra lettered copies for presentation, signed by Aldington, Symons White and Beaumont. This copy was presented to J. G. Wilson, proprietor of the influential London bookseller J. and E. Bumpus.
Pierre Custot, Richard Aldington (Translator)
Sturly
London, Jonathan Cape, 1924
T.E. Lawrence had initially been commissioned to undertake the translation of Sturly, but had been defeated by the French scientific names in the text. Lawrence did, however, write the blurb for Aldington’s translation. This appears to have been the first time that Aldington and Lawrence crossed paths, if only indirectly. The author, Pierre Custot, was so impressed with the translation that he apparently considered Aldington for a position with the Maritime Institute in Monaco.
Voltaire and Frederick the Great
Letters of Voltaire and Frederick the Great
Translated and with an introduction by Richard Aldington
London, George Routledge & Sons, 1927
Aldington was engaged by Routledge to act as editor of The Broadway Library of XVIII Century French Literature. The series, which eventually comprised 19 volumes, also included translations by F.S. Flint, Brigit Patmore, Aldington’s companion, J.G. Fletcher, Raymond Mortimer, Ralph Partridge and C.K. Scott-Moncrieff, amongst others. Aldington contributed three further introductions to the series.
Choderlos de Laclos
Dangerous Acquaintances
Translated and with an introduction by Richard Aldington
London, George Routledge & Sons, 1924
This volume was part of Routledge’s 51-volume Broadway Translations Series, to which Aldington contributed 6 translations. Aldington’s translation became the long-held standard.
The dust jacket includes complimentary reviews of Aldington’s translation.
D.H. Lawrence
Apocalypse
Introduction by Richard Aldington
London, Martin Secker, 1932
Apocalypse, a posthumous work of D.H. Lawrence, was first published by Aldington’s friend Gino Orioli as #6 in his Lungarno Series in a limited edition in 1931.
Giovanni Boccaccio
The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio (2 volumes)
Translated by Richard Aldington
Illustrated by Jean de Bosschère
London, Putnam, 1933
The edition, which was printed in the U.S., was limited to 2,500 copies, of which 500 were for England. Unusually for Aldington, this volume does not include an introduction by him. There are 20 colored and black and white illustrations by Jean de Bosschère (1878-1953), a Belgian writer and illustrator.
Giovanni Boccaccio
The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio (2 volumes)
Translated by Richard Aldington
Illustrated by Rockwell Kent
Garden City, New York: Garden City Publishing, 1949
This edition was limited to 1,500 numbered copies signed by Rockwell Kent and with 32 full-page color illustrations and numerous black and white section headers. There is a slipcase with a black and white engraving by Kent. Rockwell Kent also illustrated Aldington’s translation of Candide, and the dust jackets for the U.S. editions of All Men are Enemies and Very Heaven.
