Tor House

THE STONE MASON OF TOR HOUSE

By Melba Berry Bennett

A Tor House Exclusive - Tor House is pleased to announce the re-issuing of The Stone Mason of Tor House.

Melba Berry Bennett won the affection of both Jeffers and Una and after Una's death became Jeffers' secretary and worked with him until the end of his life.  The result is a biography rich in detail and true to its subject.  Jeffers did not reveal himself often to others, so his and Una's friendship with Bennett represented an unusual opportunity for Bennett to produce an authoritative, sensitive portrait of the poet. 

This handsome edition, with slipcase, is available exclusively through the Tor House Bookstore, including at our online store.

$15

Commemorative broadside

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Robinson Jeffers, this broadside is available for purchase.  After Jeffers passed in 1962, William Everson, along with many other followers of Jeffers' work, were asked to write elegies to the poet and his life's work.  Bill Everson, a devoted follower of Jeffers wrote "The Poet is Dead" as his tribute.  This broadside presents the first three stanzas of the poem.  The second stanza was added a few years later to emphasize the environment surrounding the night of Jeffers passing:

Snow on the headland,

Rare on the coast of California. 

Snow on Point Lobos,

Falling all night,

Filling the creeks and the back country,

The strangely beautiful

Setting of death.

These lines were used by the artist Tom Killion to depict Tor House (and in another etching, Pt Lobos) in snowfall.  This aspect of the poem underlines Jeffers' tight association with the environment of his home in Carmel, California. 

Peter Thomas was commissioned by Tor House Foundation to print the broadside.  Peter worked directly with Everson at Lime Kiln Press at UCSC on the monumental book Granite and Cypress, a fine art book tribute to Jeffers poetry.  Peter later printed a limited edition book of The Poet is Dead for Everson, from which this broadside is inspired. 

You may purchase the broadside directly from Tor House when you visit.

A eulogy by William Everson for Jeffers.  Etching of Tor House in snow by Tom Killion (www.TomKillion.com).  Printed on handmade paper by Peter and Donna Thomas, Santa Cruz. 11x15, limited edition of 50 prints, $80 each (includes tax) to benefit Tor House Foundation. Only a few of these broadsides are left.