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Exact textual statePublished Version

The Skull in the Clouds

Part of Reuben’s Birthright

StateA published alternate version of “Reuben’s Birthright”, no known draftSurviving witnesses1TSS catalogue units2
Textual identity is not textual authority. “Catalogue primary/default” selects the default catalogue representation; it does not mean that this wording is automatically Howard’s most authoritative text.

Version-specific titles

The Skull in the Clouds (a published alternate version of “Reuben’s Birthright”, no known draft)The Skull in the Clouds

Characters in this exact text

Exhaustively reviewed for this catalogued Poetry state. Generic lyric speakers/addressees, collectives, places and purely metaphorical allusions are not manufactured into permanent Characters.

Conn O’NeillConn Ruadh — Gaelic lord betrayed by the narrator in the two states of “Reuben’s Birthright”Mentioned1 source-counted occurrence(s) · first: Collected Poetry UE Vol. 1 p. 43Dermod O’ConnorDermod O’Connor — Irish figure killed by the Fitzgerald narrator after an insultOn Page1 source-counted occurrence(s) · first: Collected Poetry UE Vol. 1 p. 43Black PrinceEdward of Woodstock — Edward the Black Prince, historical Prince of Wales commanding the narratorOn Page3 source-counted occurrence(s) · first: Collected Poetry UE Vol. 1 p. 43FitzjamesFitzjames — the Black Prince’s companion killed by an unseen axeOn Page1 source-counted occurrence(s) · first: Collected Poetry UE Vol. 1 p. 43Lord AmoryLord Amory — lord of the Fitzgerald line mentioned at the close of “Reuben’s Birthright”Mentioned1 source-counted occurrence(s) · first: Collected Poetry UE Vol. 1 p. 43Ithe Fitzgerald narrator — unnamed Geraldine/Fitzgerald warrior who narrates The Skull in the CloudsOn Page1 source-counted occurrence(s) · first: Collected Poetry UE Vol. 1 p. 43

Surviving manuscript evidence

The records below describe surviving physical typescripts, carbons, manuscript material and documentary catalogue evidence for this exact textual state. TSS numbers identify physical catalogue units; they are not story or draft IDs.

Glenn Lord retype — The Skull in the CloudsSecondary retype
Extent2 pagesCompletenessCompleteness uncertain

Physical extent: 2 Glenn Lord retype pages

TSS: 15119–15120

Glenn Lord preservation retype; source physical description: Flat-t TW.

Source: 000 TSS of REH moving towards final.xls · 15000 / Poetry working list · The Skull in the Clouds (gr1) · TSS 15119–15120

Textual witnesses & editorial mediation

These records describe how this textual state is known or represented. A witness may be authorial, editorially mediated, restored, transcribed or otherwise derived without becoming a new Howard-authored textual state.

Collected Poetry UE Vol. 1 p. 43Restored reading editionAuthority basis: Restoration toward authorial text · Treatment: Restored toward authorial wording

The Collected Poetry of Robert E. Howard UE Vol. 1 p. 43

Published in

The Collected Poetry of Robert E. Howard Volume OneREH Foundation PressOctober 2022↗