Add MS 89161/5/9

Joan Bakewell was a member of the jury for the Booker McConnell Prize for 1981. The Chairman was Malcolm Bradbury, and the other judges were Brian Aldiss, Samuel Hynes, and Hermione Lee. For background, see Bakewell, The Centre of the Bed (2003), pp. 260-3.

The file comprises:

• (1). 'Guidance to Judges', 'Rules of the Competition', and 'A Short History' of the competition.
• (2). Letters from Martyn Goff (Director National Book League), and Michael H. Caine (Chairman, Booker McConnell). And an Invitation Card for the Prize presentation (20 October 1981).
• (3). Typed lists of novels despatched to judges (May-August 1981).
• (4). Cards and letters from fellow judges: Hermione Lee (postcard, 26 Oct 1981); Brian Aldiss (letter, 5 Oct 1981, enclosing 'a copy [11 pp. carbon typescript] of my Guardian article' to 'appear next week') and two cards from him (28 Oct and 4 Nov 1981). Letter from Malcolm Bradbury (5 Nov 1981). Also, two postcards: from Margaret Forster (12 Sept 1981) and an undated card from an unidentified correspondent ('C').
• (5). Various handwritten notes by Bakewell, including 'The Truth about Booker' ('The fact is, Sam Hynes & I fixed it!'). Includes some notes that appear to have been made at a later date, probably in relation to writing The Centre of the Bed.
• (6). Malcolm Bradbury, 'The Booker Prize Speech (20 October 1981)'. 12 sheets photocopy typescript.
• (7). Various newspaper cuttings (some as photocopies). Includes: Brian Aldiss, 'Bell's, Booker, and candle', The Guardian (9 October 1981), and Hermione Lee, 'The Booker Prize: matters of judgement', TLS (30 October 1981).