I was completely convinced by this when I first read it, and now I can't read it any other way, even though I'm starting to think it's a bit unlikely. But surely, surely the sestina is meant to be bad??

yes - he was in 2 Clarence Terrace from 1952 onwards, and Autumn Sequel is '53

What on earth was Laszlo Krasznahorkai doing in Acton Morrisons??

there's one on the shelf in the bookshop I'm pretty sure - give us a shout tomorrow afternoon if nobody has answered before then?

(& if you are after association copies, Foster Books have various poetry collections inscribed to him)

do you have his autobiography, by any chance? I've been trying to work out the exact house where he lived in Chiswick - I think i walk past it on my way into work.

In Blundellsands it just means cigarette

It is really a mystery to me what Saintsbury is trying to get across about Crashaw's stepmother! I am going to look up the browning reference

amazing! Thank you

a coot weighs in at 600-900g, a moorhen at 250-400g - meaning you will always be able to send a moorhen with a large letter stamp but for a coot you will need to weigh it and check. so for ease of postage I go for moorhen