What Did Marvell’s Poetry Look Like in Manuscript?

• In Event: Andrew Marvell: Writing and Teaching

Abstract

According to Mary Marvell, Miscellaneous Poems (1681) was ‘Printed according to the exact Copies of my late dear Husband, under his own Hand-Writing, being found since his Death among his other Papers’. These papers are not known to have survived the press, meaning that our view of Marvell’s autograph verse is irretrievably filtered through printing house practices. But is this necessarily so? One test case is supplied by The Character of Holland, printed under Marvell’s auspices in 1665 and again in 1681. Another is University of Nottingham, Portland MS Pw V 299 – the copy of The Last Instructions to a Painter used by the printer in 1689. What can we infer from these materials how Marvell’s poetry appeared in manuscript, and especially his preferences in the use of italics?

Author

• Martin Dzelzainis, University of Leicester