Enid Bagnold Letters to Robin Maugham, 1963-1979, bulk 1979

Creator:

Abstract:

English author and playwright, Enid Bagnold developed a close personal and professional relationship with fellow English writer Robin Maugham. This collection consists of her letters to him, primarily in the year 1979.

Extent:

0.21 linear feet 0.5 document box

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

Enid Bagnold's letters to Robin Maugham are primarily personal in nature, though it is evident that Maugham often sent Bagnold copies of his books for which, whether solicited or not, she would share her critique. The letters begin in 1963 with a short, hand-written note on Bagnold's personalized stationery. The letters throughout the 1960s and 1970s, many of which are also hand-written on this stationery, are often congratulatory and consist primarily of discussions of the two's work and travels. Katharine Hepburn is mentioned in one.

Some of the letters in the "undated" folder are fragments. Only one of the letters includes a response from Maugham.

Biographical / historical:

Enid Algerine Bagnold was born in October 1889 in Rochester, Kent, England. Both a novelist and a playwright, Bagnold is best remembered for her 1935 book, National Velvet, which was made into the 1944 film of the same title starring Elizabeth Taylor. Her writing career began much earlier, however, when she wrote candidly about serving as a nurse and then as a driver during World War I.

In 1920, Bagnold married Sir Roderick Jones, earning the title Lady Jones yet maintaining her maiden name for her writing career. They resided in the Sir Edward Burne Jones House in Rottingdean, Sussex, England. The couple had four children.

Throughout her long career, Bagnold befriended many in the literary world, some of whom are included in her 1980 publication, Letters to Frank Harris & Other Friends. Another such friend, nephew of writer William Somerset Maugham, Robin Maugham was especially important to her in the final years of her life. Bagnold died in March 1981 at the age of 91.

Acquisition information:

62 letters to Robin Maugham: Source of acquisition--2293B (Rare Book). Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--04/04/94. Accession number--M-94-04-04.

Processing information:

62 letters to Robin Maugham Cataloged HR 04/21/94.

Collection reprocessed and finding aid written by Christina N. Manzella, Pratt SILS 2011, in June 2010

Papers cataloged 10/06.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged chronologically. Undated items are placed at the end.

Accruals:

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Enid Bagnold Letters to Robin Maugham; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection