Talk Prepared for the Cheltenham Literature Festival
Scope & Content:
Two typescript drafts of a talk delivered at the Cheltenham Festival of Literature (October 2008), addressing the question: 'Which writers have influenced you?' An annotation at the head of the second draft notes that the talk was adapted from an essay on Isaac Babel (collected in Making an Ele...
A: Natalie Abrahami, researching Waterland - two letters from Abrahami, one from Swift (2000); Peter Ackroyd, with thanks for dinner (without date); Tasha Alder, researching Swift (2004). B: Barbara Baker - correspondence comprising 21 postcards and letters, some copies (2005-08); Pat Baker - 4 ...
C: Carmen Callil - letter (2002); Jonathan Cape Limited (Tom Maschler and others) - 8 letters and cards concerning unsuccessful submission of volume of stories and The Sweetshop Owner (1977-78); Professor John Carey - printed e-mail message from Carey containing questions for interview at Oxford...
E: Professor Terry Eagleton - letter requesting meeting (7 July, 1996); Georgina Edmonds, Kingfisher Lodge, Hampshire - letter with 2 colour photographs of Swift fishing (17 July, 1996). F: Hugh Falkus, angler - correspondence comprising 12 letters and cards, plus newspaper cuttings and copies (...
G: Jonny Gallant, Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh - letter with copy reply concerning poem by Kenneth Steven inspired by Waterland (2008); Maggie Gee - postcard, concerning Waterland (dated 8 August, without year); Caroline Gascoigne, Sunday Times - letter concerning reading at Hay-on-Wye Festival...
H: Alan Hancox - letter (11 October, 1989); Dorothea Hannay (Swift's primary school Headmistress), with related material including Croydon Advertiser obituary for Hannay (incorporating Swift photograph and reference), and letter from a young (10 years) aspiring Croydon author (2003-04); Helen Ha...