| Description | 1. Letters from Petre Mais and his family to Henry Williamson
Including 71 letters from Petre Mais [1924-1973] mentioning 'Tarka', 'The Old Stag', 'The Village Book', 'The Pathway', 'The Patriot's Progress', 'The Flax of Dream', 'The Clear Water Stream'; a postcard featuring a black and white photograph of Messina in Sicily and stamp about safe driving; 21 letters from his wife Jill Mais [Gillian Doughty, 1954-1974]; one letter from Imogen Mais [1955]; one letter from Mogie [1952] and 2 letters from Dudley Carew [1974-1975, married Jill in 1974]
Also including one letter from Henry Williamson to Petre Mais;
2. Papers relating to Petre Mais including:
Printed articles by Petre Mais: 'Keep off the Grass'; 'A Miracle!'; 'People I Have Met. Hockey with H G Wells: The Genius of Meggie Albanesi: Wraith-like H V Morton and Mystic Henry Williamson';
Newcutting article 'SPB - The famous Englishman of whom most people have never heard!'
Book cutting with printed photographs of Petre Mais
3. Anne Williamson's annotations |
| AdminHistory | Stuart Petre Brodie Mais [1885-1975] was an author, journalist and broadcaster. He worked as a teacher before attending Oxford University, and then continued as a schoolmaster from 1909-1920. During his time, he published 'An English Course for Army Candidates' and 'An English Course for Schools' as well as his first novels 'April's Lonely Soldier' and 'Interlude'. Between 1918 and 1931 Mais wrote for the Evening News, the Daily Express, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Graphic. He went on to publish works such as 'See England First' and in 1932 was commissioned to travel through England, Scotland and Wales by the BBC, resulting in the publication of 'This Unknown Island' the same year. He went on to give talks in the United States and Britain throughout the 1930s, and appeared on BBC Radio programme 'The Kitchen Front' throughout the Second World War. After the war he continued to publish travel writing, novels and autobiography, including 'Round the World Cruise Holiday' and 'All the Days of my Life'. |