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This collection of correspondence and published and unpublished works by British novelist
R. C. Hutchinson forms a core of Hutchinson's novels from his earliest, Thou Hast a Devil (1930), to his last, Rising, published posthumously in 1976. Much of Hutchinson's work
describes contemporary European historical settings on a grand scale, requiring great
narrative skill. His novels were published in the United States and were translated
in
several languages. Also included are short stories, plays, articles, and other writings
reflecting his writing career from 1935-1975. |
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Four categories are used to describe this collection: Works, Correspondence, Personal,
and
Works by Others. The first and largest series, Works, is further subdivided to accommodate
Hutchinson's breadth as a writer. The subseries include: novels, short stories, plays,
articles, book reviews, broadcasts, humorous sketches, letters to the editor, obituaries
and
tributes, speeches, verse, and other writings. The novels represented here are those
published in the last decade of Hutchinson's life from 1964 through 1975, including
A Child Possessed, Johanna at Daybreak, Origins of Cathleen, Rising, and an unfinished novel, Franziska. In these works, Hutchinson's creative methodology can be
followed from notes and sketches, through holograph and typed drafts, to the final
proofs.
Similarly, more than one draft is frequently present for his short stories and articles
which appeared in periodicals such as The English Review, Punch, The Spectator, and popular
British magazines. These are arranged alphabetically by title, as are Hutchinson's
plays and
radio broadcasts. Numerous periodicals containing Hutchinson's short stories and articles
received with this collection were transferred to the HRC book collection. |
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The subseries Other Writings includes notes and essays from Hutchinson's days at Oriel
College and military training at Sandhurst. His military career is further represented
by
the manuscript and typescript of Paiforce, a history of the
Persia and Iraq command, which Hutchinson wrote while serving as General Staff Officer
in
the War Office. |
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Concluding the series of Works are numerous book jackets and two promotional displays
for
A Child Possessed and Image of My Father. |
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The second series, Correspondence, includes postcards, telegrams, and holograph and
typed
letters between Hutchinson and his literary agent, Curtis Brown; his publisher, Michael
Joseph; the BBC; poet, Martyn Skinner; and colleagues dating from 1941-l974. The
correspondence with the Curtis Brown agency documents Hutchinson's writing activity
from
1960 through his severance with the firm in 1967, and re-establishment in 1970. Some
holograph drafts of letters written by Hutchinson appear in chronological order with
other
correspondence. Topics include foreign translation agreements, reprints, stage
dramatizations, royalties and copyrights, Hutchinson's receipt of the W.H. Smith Annual
Literary Award (1966), and the publication of his novels, March the Ninth, A Child Possessed (including
work on a film version in 1969-70), Origins of Cathleen, Image of My Father, and Elephant and Castle, among others. |
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Correspondence related to the publisher Michael Joseph (1968-74) picks up the thread
of
publishing at the time of Hutchinson's departure from Curtis Brown. These letters
from
various Michael Joseph representatives discuss the publication of Johanna at Daybreak and Origins of Cathleen. |
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BBC correspondence dates from 1953-1972 and includes references to Hutchinson's
participation in BBC Home Service programs, talks for "The World of Books" series, and interviews for the Contemporary
British Writers series. Also included is the typescript for "Nightmare Before Babylon." |
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Correspondence with Warren Chetham-Strode centers on the dramatization of "The Stepmother" including staging of the play, programs, and opening
night telegrams. Also present is Chetham-Strode's typescript adaptation of "The Stepmother" which he titled "The Image." |
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Of particular interest in this series are photocopies of correspondence with poet
Martyn
Skinner, the compilation of which was published in 1979 as Two Men of Letters: Correspondence Between R. C. Hutchinson, Novelist, and
Martyn Skinner, Poet, 1957-1974. The originals of these letters reside in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford. Also included is related correspondence between Hutchinson's
wife
Margaret, Martyn Skinner, and Rupert Hart-Davis, editor, regarding the publication
of these
letters. One holograph letter from Skinner to Hutchinson dated October 24, 1961 is
present. |
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The personal material in Series III includes early schoolboy diaries (1922-23) as
well as
date books from 1971-1975. A record of Hutchinson's literary earnings is found in
four
notebooks dating from 1928-1963. |
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The Works by Others series is notable for its inclusion of two adaptations of Hutchinson's
works, Stephan's Child by Guy Green based on A Child Possessed and March the Ninth adapted by Elizabeth Lincoln. |
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In addition to the materials in the above four series, this finding aid lists Hutchinson
materials previously listed in the Ransom Center's card catalog, as well as several
accessions of Hutchinson materials not previously listed. Included at the end of the
finding
aid is an explanatory note with information regarding the arrangement of the manuscripts
as
well as the abbreviations commonly used in descriptions. |
