Orwellian authorship

The title page declares:

Seneca’s

Oedipus

Adapted by Ted Hughes

Introduction by Peter Brook

Illustrated by Reginald Pollack

Doubleday & Company, Inc.,

Garden City, New York 1972

The next page notes:

Note: Seneca’s Oedipus is the sole property of the author and is fully protected by copyright. … All rights, including professional, amateur, stock, radio and television broadcasting, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public readings, and the rights of translation in [sic] foreign languages are reserved.  All inquiries should be addressed to the author’s agent: Olwyn Hughes….

This conception of authorship isn’t romantic; it’s horrible and fearful. It’s a worse curse than Merwin’s.  Hell, if I foolishly believed I would generate some pity, I would stick my head into the oven.

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