Add MS 78756-78761

Correspondence and literary manuscripts of Edward (Ted) James Hughes, poet (b. 1930, d.1998) and writer, and Keith Sagar (b. 1934), academic and critic, comprising letters sent to Sagar by Hughes, many enclosing poetic and other literary manuscripts. These manuscripts include poems not present in Sagar’s bibliography of Hughes. Many of the letters and enclosures are responses to Sagar’s biographical, bibliographical and literary critical study of Hughes’ oeuvre, but also include discussion of personal and domestic affairs. Most of the letters from Sagar are copies printed from his personal computer, dating from the later period of the correspondence; 1969-1998, n.d. Autograph, typewritten and photocopies. The papers are ordered chronologically as far as possible, with some letters and enclosures dated according to their accompanying envelope. Poems, whose original dates of enclosure are uncertain, are collected in Add. 78761, together with envelopes whose post marks are unclear. Other significant Hughes material is at the Robert Woodruff Library, Emory University, Atlanta, and at the University of Liverpool Library. For bibliographies see, Keith Sagar and Stephen Tabor. Ted Hughes: A Bibliography 1946-1995 (1998); Dictionary of Literary Biography: Poets of Great Britain and Ireland since 1960, ed. Vincent B. Sherry, 275 vols (Detroit, 1985) xl.i 258-276; Dictionary of Literary Biography: British Children’s Writers since 1960, ed. Caroline Hunt, 275 vols (Detroit, 1985) clxi. 197-209. For other Ted Hughes manuscripts at the British Library see Add. 53784 and Add.59833 ff.61, 63. Purchased from Roy Davids in May 2001.

Six volumes. British Library arrangement. Arranged as follows: