Peter Jones: The Unacknowledged Pillar of Poetry Publishing
Peter Jones, who has died at the age of 96, was an unacknowledged presence in many poetry lovers' libraries, his influence quietly shaping the literary landscape through his work with PN Review and Carcanet Press. His editorial contributions, particularly in the realm of American poetry, left an indelible mark on the publishing world.
A Lifelong Dedication to Poetry
Jones is perhaps best known for editing the Penguin collection Imagist Poetry, first published in 1972 and still in print today, having been reissued as a Penguin Modern Classic since 2001. The collection also exists in a Chinese translation, testament to its enduring global appeal. Beyond this, he authored Fifty American Poets in 1980, a work that introduced challenging new voices to English readers, many of whom were published through his efforts.
Founding and Financing Literary Ventures
In 1969, Jones played a key role in founding Carcanet Press at Pin Farm, South Hinksey, Oxford, alongside the magazine PN Review. He shared "the labour and the risks," as noted by Mark Fisher in Letters to an Editor (1989), even surrendering his teacher's pension to help finance these projects. This financial sacrifice underscored his deep commitment to fostering literary excellence.
Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Walsall, Staffordshire, Jones was the son of Elsie (née MacFarlane) and Austin Jones. His childhood was marked by the Second World War; he watched from his bedroom window the glow from the bombing of Coventry in 1940. After national service in the RAF from 1947 to 1949, he attended Keble College, Oxford, on a scholarship to study English.
At Keble, he formed a lifelong friendship with the future poet Geoffrey Hill. Both came from modest backgrounds—Jones's father was a colliery accountant, Hill's a local policeman—and they shared a sense of not belonging at Oxford. Their bond, described by Jones's widow Alison Elizabeth Lister as growing out of "shared displacement," lasted until Hill's death in 2016, with weekly telephone calls that could last for hours.
Career and Personal Life
Before his publishing career, Jones was a well-loved English teacher at Christ's Hospital school in West Sussex, known for his theatre productions. He mentored future actors, including Roger Allam, and inspired students like John Pine, who credited Jones with starting his acting career by casting him in challenging roles.
Jones married Alison in 1984, and their son Laurence was born severely disabled in 1985. The family moved to Elston, Nottinghamshire, in 1991. In a remarkable academic achievement, Jones earned a second first-class degree in English from Nottingham University at the age of 74, aiming "to stave off boredom." He spent his later years in the village of Cropwell Butler, where he managed "amazingly well," according to Alison, until near the end of his life.
Editorial Legacy and Rediscoveries
Jones's editorial focus at PN Review and Carcanet was American poetry, where he developed a particular enthusiasm for Hilda Doolittle, who published as "HD." He introduced her Tribute to Freud (1971) and brought on board her collections Trilogy and Hermetic Definition, the latter being a favourite rediscovery. His final editorial collaboration was the critical anthology British Poetry Since 1970, published in 1980.
He is survived by his wife Alison and son Laurence, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in the worlds of poetry and publishing.
