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Paul Breman and Arna W. Bontemps
Published in London by Paul Breman between 1962 and 1975,
the Heritage Series of Black Poetry consists of twenty-seven volumes by
new African American and black poets as well as those of older generations
whose work had not previously appeared in book form. The series featured
photographic covers and biographical information
about the authors, many of whom were, at the time of publication, unknown
but for their appearances in such compilations as The Poetry of the
Negro, 17461949: An Anthology edited by Arna W. Bontemps (190273)
and Langston Hughes (190267).
  
  
  
 
Click on letters for a larger view
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The following text is an excerpt of a letter from
Paul Breman to Arna Bontemps dated 28 June 1959 in the Arna Wendell
Bontemps Papers at the Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse
University Library:
I will, I hope, be starting small editions of Negro
poetry booklets next year. The first series of four titles will
include books by Robert Hayden . . . and Waring Cuney. . . . I
had thought of re-issuing Fenton Johnsons three books (or
pamphlets . . . ), but maybe you could be persuaded to make a
selection from his best verse, including the unpublished material.
It would not, Im afraid, be a tewarding work financially.
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The following text is an excerpt of a letter from
Arna Bontemps to Paul Breman dated 7 July 1959 in the Arna Wendell
Bontemps Papers at the Special Collections Research Center at Syracuse
University Library:
I will be only too glad to work with you on the plan to reissue
a selection of his [Fenton Johnsons] best verse. I would
take my last letter from him as authorization for this, and I
understand that the financial rewards for such an undertaking
will be modest.
Incidentally, when you are thinking about older poets, remember
one by the name of Arna Bontemps whose things have enjoyed widely
scattered publication but have never been brought together!
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