COVE

Dear Miki,

Knowing how picky you are with your novels, I am gifting this book to you after searching long and hard for the perfect version for you. The illustrator of this book, like you, is a lover of beautiful things. You’ll find in the beginning of this version of the Rubáiyát an introduction where the illustrator, M. K. Sett, states, “[D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co.] inform me there is a class of discriminating public who still love beauty and who appreciate it.” I believe you to be a part of this ‘discriminating public.’ Though trivial, your favorite color, green, is a main theme found repeatedly in this book, which also made me think of you. As you’ll see, the casing of the book is covered in a soft, green cloth and several pages inside are covered in green ink, both the poems and the images. Even in the verses themselves, this rich, natural beauty is present. "Look to the Rose that blows about us—'Lo, / Laughing,' she says, 'into the World I blow: / At once the silken Tassel of my Purse / Tear, and its Treasure on the Garden throw'" (4). It seemed fitting, as the poem lingers on the green vitality of nature, much like the color that reminds me of you. And knowing how much you like special books, I chose this version because the pages of the book are loose and are unbound to the spine, which is pretty rare nowadays I’d say! It made me think of one of the verses from the Rubáiyát itself, a gentle reminder to treasure the rare and beautiful while they last. “Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend, / Before we too into the Dust descend; / Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie, / Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and—sans / End!” (6). Like this unusual edition, such moments, and such books, are not easily found again. Also, knowing you’re a fan of Aubrey Beardsley, I wanted to get your opinion on whether or not Sett mimics their style. Sett claims, “till quite lately I knew not of Beardsley” but many “critics and artists” question whether this is the truth or not. Something else that’s unique about this book is the amount of nudity present. I’m curious to see if you think this pairs well with the artistic side of things, or if you think it’s unnecessary and uncouth.

I look forward to hearing from you!

With love,
Chloe’