| Description | 51 letters and cards from Patricia Beer to Nick Furbank. Some have dates added later in pencil by Furbank's literary executor. Mixture of typescript and manuscript letters comprising the following (includes address sent from and date):
Cathles Road, London - 15 Jan 1960, 23 May 1960, 19 Jul 1960, 24 Aug 1960
Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath - 10 Jan 1961, 18 [Jul 1961], Saturday [late 1961], 2 Jan 1962, 7 Aug 1962 (London University Summer School), [25 Nov 1962], 3 Sep 1963, 11 Aug 1969
Lutton Terrace, London - 13 Dec 1970, 2 Jan 1974, 25 Jul 1977, 17 Jul 1978 (New York)
Siphayes, Up Ottery - 26 Jul 1979, 2 Dec 1985, 25 Aug 1986, 15 Jan 1987, 15 Apr 1988, 14 May 198816 Dec 1988, 24 Jan 1989, 8 Aug 1991, 14 Sep 1991, 23 Sep 1991, 20 Mar 1992, 2 Apr 1992, 28 May 1992, 27 Jul 1992, 31 Jul 1992, 1 Sep 1992, 9 Feb 1993, 24 Aug 1993, 21 Sep 1993, 26 Oct 1993, 18 Dec 1993, 6 Jan [1994], 26 Feb 1994, 25 Mar 1994, 23 Aug 1994, 8 Sep 1994 (Nuffield Hospital, Exeter), 20 Sep 1994 (Nuffield Hospital, Exeter), 21 Jan 1995, 7 Feb 1995, [1995?], 11 Dec 1995, 27 May 1996 (includes typescript of diary material related to The Starcross Ferry), 2 Oct 1997
Topics discussed include general pleasantries, books they are reading, both Beer and Furbank's writing, moving house, divorce arrangements (particularly on what grounds it should be presented to keep Furbank's sexuality private), Beer's work for the BBC, proposed New Delhi LAVA Poetry Journal, Stony Brook University Conference, Exmouth Carnival, Beer's mental health (particularly after a fire), retirement, libel challenge around the Starcross Ferry, the London Review of Books, Hilary Mantel, possibility of Furbank writing Beer's biography, Beer suffering a stroke
Named works by Beer: The Estuary, The Metaphysicals, The Kings of the Sea, The Shining Glory Shore (abandoned), Collected Poems, Moon's Ottery, The Starcross Ferry, Art History, Hospital Case [possibly published as Sequence: Seven Poems] |