Elizabeth Bowen Papers, 1934-1946, bulk 1944-1946

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Summary

Creators:
Bowen, Elizabeth, 1899-1973.
Abstract:
The collection is composed of correspondence and literary manuscripts of Anglo-Irish novelist Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973). The correspondence concerns publishing arrangements for Bowen's works in progress during the years 1944-1946, discussions of her writing and the writing of other authors, and references to her wartime writing for the British Council and other agencies.
Extent:
368 pieces in 5 boxes.
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is composed of correspondence and literary manuscripts of Anglo-Irish author Elizabeth Bowen. All the manuscripts and over one hundred letters in the collection were penned by Bowen. The correspondence concerns publishing arrangements for Bowen's works in progress during the years 1944-1946, discussions of her writing and the writing of other authors, and references to her wartime writing for the British Council and other agencies.

Correspondents include the British Broadcasting Corporation, Jonathan Cape Ltd., the Cresset Press, Cecil Day Lewis, the Fontaine, the British Council, Great Britain's Control Office for Germany and Austria, Graham Greene, John Hayward, Alfred A. Knopf Inc., John Lehmann, the Listener, Longmans, Green and Company, Ltd., the Opus Press, Victor Sawdon Pritchett, Emile Victor Rieu, Rolfe Arnold Scott-James, and Vogue.

Some notable items include:

  • Bowen, Elizabeth Dorothea Cole. To Lady Cynthia Mary Evelyn (Charteris) Asquith [1934] briefly describing an experience in Fascist Italy. HM 53108.
  • Bowen, Elizabeth Dorothea Cole. Letter (1946, July 1) to Harper's Bazaar encloses list of houses and places that inspired her stories. HM 52803.
  • Bowen, Elizabeth Dorothea Cole. Letter (1946, Mar. 1) to Frank Rouda analyzing her writing style and commenting on The House in Paris, in response to his request (1946, Feb. 2) for information to be used in his graduate studies. HM 52858 and HM 53060.
  • Day-Lewis, Cecil. 6 pieces (1944-1946) to Elizabeth Bowen, and 5 pieces (1944-1946) from Bowen to Day-Lewis, discussing her writing for Orion. HM 52776-52780 and HM 52920-52925.
  • Great Britain. British Council. 8 pieces (1945-1946) to Elizabeth Bowen and 6 pieces (1945-1946) from Bowen to the British Council about various writing projects relating to the Council's wartime and post-war efforts. HM 52791-52796 and HM 52946-52953.
  • Greene, Graham. 2 pieces (1945-1946) to Elizabeth Bowen and 2 pieces (1944-ca. 1945) from Bowen to Greene concerning literary matters. HM 52801-52802 and HM 52962-52963.
  • Hayward, John. 5 pieces (1945) to Elizabeth Bowen, one mentioning T.S. Eliot and all dealing with a literary project for Cresset Press. HM 52966-52970. Also 4 pieces (1945-1946) to Elizabeth Bowen from Cresset Press and 2 pieces (1946) from Bowen to Cresset Press. HM 52774-52775 and HM 52916-52919.
  • Knopf (Alfred A.) Co. 10 pieces (1944-1946) to Elizabeth Bowen concerning publishing arrangements for The Demon Lover (published in the U.S. as Ivy Gripped the Steps) and 5 pieces (1946) from Bowen to Knopf. HM 52816-52820 and HM 52982-52991.
  • Pritchett, V.S. Letter (1946, June 10) to Elizabeth Bowen about plans for a joint publication: Why Do I Write? An Exchange of Views between Elizabeth Bowen, Graham Greene, & V.S. Pritchett (published in 1948). HM 53048.

Persons represented by 5 or more pieces consist of:

  • Bowen, Elizabeth Dorothea Cole. 6 literary manuscripts, 134 pieces (1934-1946). HM 52743-52880, HM 53107-53108.
  • British Broadcasting Corp. 12 pieces (1945-1946). HM 52881-52892.
  • Cape (Jonathan) Ltd. 6 pieces (1944-1945). HM 52895-52900.
  • Day-Lewis, Cecil. 6 pieces (1944-1946). HM 52920-52925.
  • Fontaine (periodical). 6 pieces (1944-1946). HM 52934-52939.
  • Great Britain. British Council. 8 pieces (1945-1946). HM 52946-52953.
  • Great Britain. Control Office for Germany and Austria. 5 pieces (1946). HM 52955-52959.
  • Hayward, John. 5 pieces (1945). HM 52966-52970.
  • Knopf (Alfred A.) Inc. 10 pieces (1944-1946). HM 52982-52991.
  • Lehmann, John Frederick. 6 pieces (1945-1946). HM 52993-52998.
  • The Listener (periodical). 6 pieces (1944-1946). HM 53001-53006.
  • Longmans, Green & Co., Ltd. 2 pieces (1945-1946) and 3 documents (1944-1946). HM 53009-53013.
  • The Opus Press. 5 pieces (1945-1946). HM 53030-53034.
  • Pilot Press, Ltd. 5 pieces (1945-1946). HM 53043-53047.
  • Rieu, Emile Victor. 5 pieces (1945-1946). HM 53055-53059.
  • Scott-James, Rolfe Arnold. 6 pieces (1945). HM 53066-53071.
  • Vogue (periodical). 5 pieces (1946). HM 53093-53097.

Biographical / historical:

Anglo-Irish author Elizabeth Dorothea Cole Bowen (1899-1973) was born in 1899 in Dublin, Ireland, married Alan Charles Cameron in 1923, and died in 1973 in London, England. Among her many novels are The Last September (1929), The House in Paris (1935), The Death of the Heart (1938), The Heat of the Day (1948), A World of Love (1955), and Eva Trout; or, Changing Scenes (1968). Her other numerous writings encompass literary criticism, reviews, and several volumes of short stories. Miss Bowen's honors include Commander, Order of the British Empire in 1948; D.Litt., Trinity College, Dublin, 1949, and Oxford University, 1956; Companion of Literature, Royal Society of Literature, 1965; and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, 1970, for Eva Trout.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Sotheby's, July 21, 1988, lot 151, and from Sotheby's, November 15, 1988, lot 1638.
Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically by author.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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