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COUSINS, James H.
The Renaissance in India.
First edition, inscribed by the author on the half-title: "With fraternal greetings, James H. Cousins, Tokyo 7 July 1919". The recipient is also most certainly the American professor of English literature Lewis Nathaniel Chase (1873-1937), best known for his work on Edgar Allan Poe. Chase relocated to India in 1920, where he was appointed professor of English literature at Aligarh Muslim University, and later moved to China for several years. James Henry Sproull Cousins (1873-1956) is a fascinating figure. Born in Belfast to Wesleyan Methodist parents, he moved to Dublin in 1897 and was a catalyst to the formation of the Abbey Theatre and of the Irish National Theatre in 1902. A friend of the poet-artist-occultist George Russell (AE), he became immersed in the occult and formed a theosophical lodge in Dublin. He and his wife Margaret were interested in a range of social reform activities such as vegetarianism, cycling, feminism, religious ecumenism, and the revival of folk art and music. Though James Joyce regarded Cousins as a negligible writer (taking a mean swipe at him in Gas From a Burner), he stayed at his house frequently, and spent the night of 15 June 1904 (the eve of Bloomsday, when he first wrote to Nora Barnacle) in the Cousinses' vegetarian household. After the failure of a co-operative banking venture and the outbreak of war, Cousins applied to Annie Besant for the editorship of her nationalist newspaper New India, and moved to Madras in 1915. "While Margaret Cousins became a nationally known figure for her leadership of the women's movement, James Cousins became known for his promotion of both folk and classical arts, crafts, literature, and music. In 1922 he established a school for the arts in Madras which would become the renowned Kalakeshetra and from 1934 was art adviser to the government of Travancore. In India he continued to publish poetry and politically engaged literary treatises critical of western cultural imperialism. Altogether he published more than fifty books and countless articles. Both of the Cousinses were prominent activists throughout the Indian freedom movement" (ODNB).
Octavo. Original grey cloth, spine and front cover lettered in dark blue, sides with borders blocked in blind. Inscribed by the author on the half-title. Ownership inscription of Lewis Chase on front free endpaper, and his surname only in ink on front cover; small manuscript shelf-label at foot of spine. Spine rubbed, worn at head and tail, short split to rear joint, paper stock evenly toned, still a good copy.
