Add MS 89408/2/5

Letters to Margaret Forster from fellow writers, as follows:

J

• Jackson Mick, thanking Forster for her letter about The Underground Man and asking her to read proofs of his new novel, [2001].
• James P.D., regarding the criticisms to Forster's biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 17 Jun 1988.
• James Reina, thanking Forster for her letter to editor Laura Barber about her book This Time of Dying, 19 Jun 2006.
• Jeal Tim, about Forster's letter and his treatment of Mary [Livingstone] in his book and about his possible biography of Henry Morton Stanley and the fact that Hunter Davies couldn't find a publisher to commission him to write a book about Stanley, 3 Oct 1973; about Good Wives and Mary Livingstone and his biography of Stanley, 22 Sept 2003; thanking Forster for reading his memoir Swimming with my Father and for her comments, thanking Forster for letting him know about Fletcher's Fearless Clothing and about her Diary of an Ordinary Woman, 11 Nov 2003; about a book published by Collins about two teenage girls representing themselves as middle-aged spinsters, 21 Nov 2003.
• Jones Kate, with comments on Is there Anything You Want? after reading the proofs, 1 Oct 2004.
• Joseph Philip, about her latest book [Have the Men Had Enough?] and his work in the book trade, 20 Apr 1989.

K

• Keeffe Barry, about Verity Bargate's illness, asking Forster to write to her, 14 Jul 1980.
• Kennedy Helena, congratulating Forster on Hidden Lives, 11 May 1995; about studying law, undated.
• King Francis, regarding Precious Lives winning the Ackerley Prize, [1999].
• Kinnock Glenys, thanking Forster for her book [Significant Sisters], 9 Aug 1984; asking Forster to be interviewed for a book about women by Virago, 25 Jun 1992; asking Forster to meet up [for the interview for the book mentioned above], [1992];
• Klein Anita, congratulating Forster on her books and inviting her to a private view of her exhibition, May 2001.

L

• Lapotaire Jane, about Had the Men Had Enough? and Grace and Favour, 29 and 29 Aug Jun 1989.
• Laski Marghanita, about Forster's resignation from the Arts Council Literary Panel, 27 Jun 1981; thanking Forster for her book [Significant Sisters], 18 Sept 1981.
• Lee Hermione, regarding two quotations from Forster's books in an article by Lee from The Observer, 10 Feb 1981.
• Leitch Maurice, thanking Forster for her note about his winning the Whitbread Award, 7 Nov 1981.
• Levy Andrea, thanking Forster for her words on Small Island, 6 Aug 2003; about Small Island winning the Orange Prize for Fiction, 1 Jul 2004.
• Light Alison, about her review of Daphne du Maurier and reviews of books, 12 May 1993; about her idea of writing a biography of Edith Summerskill and about writing biographies in general, 26 Sept 1993; updating Forster on the biography of Edith Summerskill, 3 Oct 1994; about Hidden Lives, 1 Oct 2007; about Precious Lives, 25 Oct 2007.
• Lively Penelope, about her publishers sending her books to her instead of her friends, 14 Nov 1997; about House Unlocked and the Butler Education Act, 26 Apr 2001; about her widowhood and children and grandchildren, 4 May 2001.
• Lodge David, regarding the Booker Prize 1980 and his award [Whitbread Book of the Year 1980], Nov 1980; about the Booker Prize 1984, stating that J.G. Ballard will probably win, [1984]; thanking Forster for her encouragement for 'Missing Persons' which 'Book at Bedtime 'want to do', undated.
• Lomax Eric, thanking Forster for her reference to The Railway Man in the Radio 4 programme 'A Good Read' and her note about it, 26 Jan 2000.
• Longford Elizabeth, about Eminent Victorian Women, 18 Oct 1981; about Significant Sisters, 26 Oct 1984.

M

• Mantel Hilary, thanking Forster for her support to her memoir and other books in the past, 23 Feb [2003].
• Markham Kika, congratulating Forster on Lady's Maid, 17 Jun 1993.
• Mars-Jones Adam, thanking Forster for her support of his book [Water of Thirst], [1993].
• Maschler Tom at Jonathan Cape, trying to get Forster to use them as publishers again, 21 Nov-4 Dec 1983.
• Masters Brian, thanking Forster for her review of Now Barabbas Was a Rotter, 27 Jan 1978; about Forster leaving the Evening Standard, 8 Sept 1980.
• Michel Caroline, about her leaving Random House and joining Harper Collins [2001].
• Moggach Deborah, thanking Forster for her card about her latest book [Tulip Fever], 4 Feb 1999.
• Morrall Clare, thanking Forster for her letter about her book and about her book being shortlisted for the Booker Prize, 20 Sept [2003].
• Mortimer Penelope, about Lady's Maid being made into a film, 18 Sept 1981.
• Motion Andrew, about criticism to his biography of Philip Larkin, 17 Nov 1993.
• Murdoch Iris, congratulating Forster on [Significant Sister],
• Murray John, thanking Forster for her letter abut John Dory, undated.
• Myerson Julie, thanking Forster for her card and congratulating her on her writing, 21 Jul 2005.

Mc

• McGrail Anna, thanking Forster for her review of Mrs Einstein, 21 Aug 1997.
• McMillan James, thanking Forster for sending him her book [Significant Sisters], 27 Nov 1984.
• McWilliam Candia, about reviewers of books, Sylvia Townsend Warner and Marie-Therese du Zulueta, 2 Jul 1994; about her talking on the radio about 'the negative capability required to write in others', 26 Apr 1995; congratulating Forster on her 'family search' and about The Commune by Margaret Buckley, 9 Nov 1995; sending her condolences for the death of Marion Davies, 18 Nov [1995].

N

• Naughtie Jim, sending a postcard from Casa Guidi, 28 Jul 2003;
• Nichols Peter, regarding Have Men Had Enough?, 5 May 1991.
• Nicholson Virginia, thanking Forster for her letter about Prefect Wives in Ideal Homes, 25 Nov 2014.
• Noble Lizzie, about writing reviews of novels and thanking Forster for writing to her, Aug 2004.

O

• O'Brien Edna, thanking Forster for her letter about Down by the River, 30 May [1996].
• Oakley Ann, asking Forster to contact her, 5 Dec 2011.

P

• Parker Peter, apologising to Forster for a mistake in the Reader's Companion to Twentieth Century Writers, 15 Dec 1995.
• Peebles Sue, thanking Forster for her nice comments on The Death of Lomond Friel, 19 Feb 2010.
• Pietrzyk Leslie, thanking Forster for her review of Pears on a Willow Tree, [1998].
• Potter Dennis, regarding being in hospital and thanking Forster for her card about Brimstone and Treacle, 21 Jan 1977; with a manuscript note by Margaret Forster of the letter 'to explain the misrepresentations in the newspapers of yesterday and today', 30 Mar 1998.
• Prideaux Sue, thanking Forster for her comments on Magnetic North, 20 Jun 1998.
• Priest Christopher, regarding him quoting what Margaret Forster said during an episode of Read All About It, 11 and 16 Nov 1983.

R

• Roberts Michèle, thanking Forster for her card and apologising if her review of her book had upset her, 15 Oct 1997; thanking Forster for her card, 5 Jan 1998.
• Rooney Jennie, thanking Forster for the quote for Inside the Whale, 21 Jul 2008.

S

• Saunders Kate, thanking Foster for her nice words about The Prodigal Father, 1986.
• Shaw Roy, regarding Forster's resignation from the Arts Council Literary Panel, 18 Feb and 2 Jul 1981.
• Sington Philip, thanking Forster for finding the time to his Zoia's Gold and for her comments, 4 Apr 2005.
• Smallwood Imogen, about the biography of Daphne du Maurier, 4 Feb 1994.
• Smith Janet Adam, about Forster's biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 15 Mar 1991; about Hidden Lives and comparing Carlisle to Penrith, after the Second World War, 24 Nov 1995; about being 'jobbing reviewers', 30 Nov 1995.
• Smith Joan, regarding her review of The Battle for Christabel, 20 Jun [1991].
• Smith Rebecca, thanking Forster for her words about her book [A Bit of Earth], 10 Apr 2006.
• Spender Dale, about the Fawcett Library, asking Forster to give a public lecture to help them, 3 and 10 Sept 1984; asking Forster to meet up, 29 Jan 1985; about Have the Men Had Enough?, [1989].
• Steedman Carolyn, thanking Forster for her letter about her books, 14 Feb 1994.
• Sutherland John, about Memoirs of a Victorian Gentleman: William Makepeace Thackeray, 13 Oct 1978.
• Swift Graham, thanking Forster for her card and inviting her to the party for Waterland, 2 Sept 1981 and undated.

T

• Taylor D. J., about Georgy Girl, 14 Jan 1993; about Hidden Lives, Memoirs of a Victorian Gentleman: William Makepeace Thackeray and his biography of Thackeray, 12 Jul 1996.
• Thwaite Ann, about the Elizabeth Barrett Browning book and asking Forster for some information about the Barretts of Jamaica for her biography of A.A. Milne, 9 Jul 1988; thanking Forster for her letter to The Independent about their article on biography, 10 Nov 1994; about Precious Lives, 1 and 17 Apr 2001.
• Tillyard Stella, about Aristocrats. Caroline, Emily, Louisa and Sarah Lennox 1740-1832, 16 Jan 1994.
• Tomalin Claire, about being in hospital and dinner parties, 19 May 1975; thanking Forster for her words and congratulating her on her work, 10 Feb 1983; about an interview Tomalin did, 14 Mar 1991.
• Townsend Susan, thanking Forster for her letter and saying how she could not write an autobiography, 10 Dec 1984.
• Tweedie Jill, about Internal Affairs, 29 Jun 1986.

U

• Uglow Jenny, about My Life in Houses, 8 Oct [2014].
• Unsworth Barry, thanking Forster for her letter about his book [Sacred Hunger] and reminiscing about meeting her at the Booker Prize dinner, 3 Feb 1992; thanking Forster for her good wishes for the Booker Prize and asking her to meet up, 1 Dec 1992.

W

• Wain John, thanking Forster for her article in the Independent on 25 Aug 1989, 2 Sept 1989.
• Wain Pat, writing a belated fan letter on behalf of her dead husband, John Wain, 15 Jan 1997.
• Waugh Auberon, about her illness and his articles in the New Statesman, 12 may 1975; congratulating Forster for The Bride of Lowther Fell: a Romance and regarding him leaving the Mail, 4 Nov 1980; about Significant Sisters, [1984]; thanking Forster for her letter, 14 Feb 1986; regarding her articles for the Literary Review, 1986-1997; regarding his resignation from the Sunday Express prize judges panel, 9 Dec 1989.
• Waugh Teresa, regarding Significant Sisters, 10 Sept [1984].
• Weldon Fay, about Marital Rites, 3 Aug 1981; thanking Forster for her card, 28 Sept 1983.
• Wesley Mary, congratulating Forster on Hidden Lives, 23 Oct 1995.
• West Rebecca, about meeting up, Jul and Sept 1980.
• Wilson Andrew N, thanking Forster for liking Gentlemen in England, (note on the back of a table name place card), undated; about an event where Forster gave a talk and sold many books [biography of Daphne du Maurier], 24 Apr 1993.
• Wintour Charles, offering Forster to be the Evening Standard's non-fiction reviewer, 1 Dec 1976; about arrangements for Forster's reviews in the Evening Standard, 16 Jan 1979; about the style of Forster's reviews in the Evening Standard, (incomplete), 27 Feb 1980.
• Wood James, about Vikram Seth's book A Suitable Boy, the 1993 Booker Prize and his criticism of the judges, 24 Sept and 1 Oct 1993.
• Woof Pamela, about Significant Sisters, 11 Sept 1984.

Z

• Zeigler Philip, about Significant Sisters, the accessibility of the Wilson's papers, and the Daphne du Maurier's book, 26 Oct 1990.

Unidentified

• Postcard from [Francine] thanking Forster for her comments on her books, undated.