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Correspondence, typescript and handwritten drafts, notes, programs, photographs,
research, film stills, drawings, and publicity materials document the work of
A. C.
H. Smith from the late 1950s through the mid-2000s. The papers are arranged into
two
series: I. Works, 1959-2005, undated; and II. Correspondence and Career-Related,
1958-2005, undated. |
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Series I., Works, is divided into two subseries: A. Books, consisting of materials
related to his original and novelized works of fiction, and B. Plays and
Screenplays, containing his writings for stage and screen. Both subseries are
arranged alphabetically by title of work. Most of the manuscripts in this series
show the progress of his writing, especially the early, heavily-edited manuscripts
which are well represented. Also contained here is correspondence directly related
to the publication and production of Smith's novels, plays, and screenplays, as
well
as letters from fans. Notable are his collaborations with playwright Tom Stoppard,
with whom Smith co-wrote the play Albert's Bridge,
and with Jim Henson, with whom he novelized the film The Dark
Crystal. The series is rounded-out by research notes for his
historically-based works such as Wagner, Sebastian the Navigator, and Up
the Feeder, Down the Mouth, as well as a small number of play posters. |
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Series II., Correspondence and Career-Related, consists of the majority of Smith's
correspondence from friends and collaborators and is arranged alphabetically by
the
name of the correspondent. (Correspondence related to specific works and productions
is interfiled in Series I.) Smith's correspondence includes letters from a variety
of notable artists such as Stoppard, Jim Henson, John Boorman, Malcolm Bradbury,
John Cleese, E. M. Forster, Allen Ginsberg, Michael Frayn, Patricia Highsmith,
Ted
Hughes, Terry Jones, John Le Carré, and others. Copies of interviews and reviews
of
Smith's works are also contained in this series, as well as two talks he delivered
at the Ransom Center in 1994 and 2005. |
