The Butterfly Ball & The Grasshopper's Feast - William Plomer
The Butterfly Ball and Grasshopper's Feast
contains a collection of poems by William Plomer. So who was
he?
In the sleeve notes to the 25th Anniversary collectors edition of the album, Roger Glover is reported as saying that the poet had sadly died as the book was published and never saw his work.
The only William Plomer I have found is William Charles Franklyn Plomer, 1903-1973), a novelist and poet born in South Africa and very much at the centre of the English literary establishment. The date of death fits as does his connection with Jonathan Cape the publisher. Plomer was a prolific reviewer, and became the influential chief reader for Jonathan Cape, who published his later work
He collaborated with Benjamin Britten, as librettist for Gloriana (1953). Apparently Alan Aldridge suggested to Roger Glover that he listen to Benjamin Britten amongst other classical composers to help him write the music. Roger preferred a more contemporary feel, however, and the music is often reminiscent of The Beatles. Given Alan Aldridge's involvement in editing the Beatles Illustrated Lyrics, the artist was just as happy with this outcome.
I can find no reference to William Plomer in connection with The Butterfly Ball on the Internet.
There are biographical details about him at the Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections site
