Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) was one of Scotland's leading 20th Century public intellectuals, and one of its most brilliant and combative correspondents. His letters raise issues of particular and widespread interest both within Scotland and further afield. His correspondence with Stephen Bann, the English poet and academic have a very special place in this context. These letters present the development of his ideas about poetry and art, and increasingly about sculpture and gardening, over this critical five year period of his creative life in 1964-69.