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Collection List No. 110 Correspondence of D.E.S. Maxwell

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Collection List No. 110 Correspondence of D.E.S. Maxwell Leabharlann Naisiúnta na hÉireann National Library of Ireland Collection List No. 110 Correspondence of D.E.S. Maxwell (1970-97) (MS. 36,252) (Accession No. 5670) An archive of letters and postcards received by D.E.S. Maxwell from various Irish writers in the period 1970-1997, mainly relating to readings and conferences at York University, Toronto where Maxwell was then Professor of English. Compiled by Victoria Perry, 2002 D.E.S. Maxwell correspondence, 1970-97 An archive consisting of letters and postcards received by D.E.S. Maxwell from various Irish writers in the period 1970-1997. The correspondents are John Boyd, Brian Friel, Maurice Good, John Wilson Haire, David Hammond, Seamus Heaney, Pearse Hutchinson, Denis Johnston, John Kelly, Maurice Leitch, Michael Longley, Seán Lucy, Tom MacIntyre, Derek Mahon, Susan Martin, John McGahern, John Montague, Brian Moore, Matt Mulcahy, Tom Murphy, Edna O’Brien, Críostóir Ó Floinn, Frank Ormsby, Graham Reid, James Simmons, Sydney Bernard Smith, Niall Toibín and Paul West. There are also a number of unidentified items, three of which are probably by Roy Fuller, Brendan Kennelly and Tom Kilroy. The archive also includes copies of scripts by Brian Moore and Derek Mahon. Desmond Ernest Stuart Maxwell was born in Derry in 1925. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin and lectured at universities in the UK and Africa before being appointed Professor of English at York University, Toronto. His publications include The Poetry of T. S. Eliot (1952); American Fiction (1963); W.B. Yeats 1865-1965: Centenary Essays on the Art of W. B. Yeats (1965); Poets of the Thirties (1969); Brian Friel (1973); and A Critical History of Modern Irish Drama 1891-1980 (1984). The letters generally relate to conferences and literary events organised by Maxwell, mainly at York University. The letters include discussion of the work of the various correspondents and of contemporary literature and literary affairs in general. With the exception of the Brian Friel items, Maxwell presented the letters to the National Library of Ireland in August 2001 (Accession 5670). The Friel letters were presented separately by Friel in May that year (Accession 5658), Maxwell having returned them on learning that the main corpus of Friel papers had just been deposited in the Library (Accession 5610). The archive consists of 329 items, which includes 259 letters, 51 postcards, 7 newspaper cuttings and 2 copies of scripts. They represent the period July 1970- April 1997.The letters are arranged by correspondent with a folder for each, except in the case of Brian Friel who is allocated six folders. There are 33 folders in all. The letters are in chronological order within the folders. All the items are manuscript unless otherwise stated. 2 Ms. 36,252/ 1 John Boyd (1912-2002); playwright. The letters mainly relate to plays with which Boyd has been involved or has seen. 3 items. Feb-Aug 1977 (1 undated) (1) Discusses previews of plays, The Gathering by Edna O’Brien, The Street and Mother Courage; refers to the cast of his new play, books he has read recently and the playwright Peter Vesser; enquires about courses Maxwell is teaching. 4 pages, 2 sheets. 7 Feb 1977 (2) Refers to letter from Maxwell and correspondence with Brian Friel; mentions the Forrest Reid issue of Threshold; states his disapproval of the production of his play The Street and of his walking out of rehearsal; has begun to write a new play; mentions recent plays performed at the Lyric in Belfast of which he is a director. 4 pages, 2 sheets. 20 April 1977 (3) Apologises for not making it to Dublin; refers to his new piece of work The Endless Search; asks for Maxwell’s opinion on Bride for the Unicorn. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 7 August (no year) Ms. 36,252/ 2-7 Brian Friel (1929-); playwright. The correspondence is divided into six folders. The letters and postcards mainly relate to arrangements for readings and the writing, casting and production of Friel’s plays. Ms. 36,252/ 2 26 items. Sept 1975-Nov 1979 (1) Refers to David Hammond and Brian Moore; is reading O’Casey’s papers; will go to London in July; is beginning Faith Healer. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 16 Sept 1975 (2) Refers to the Irish political climate; mentions John Boyd; may go to Dublin soon. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 5 Oct 1975 (3) Mentions Seamus Heaney; encloses a script; saw Tom Murphy’s The Sanctuary Lamp last week; refers to Kilroy’s Tea, Sex and Shakespeare; has been invited to join the Irish Academy of Letters. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 6 Nov 1975 (4) Mentions Faith Healer; refers to his mother. 1 sheet (international airmail letterform). 20 Sept 1976 (5) Has been casting Bannermen; refers to reading tour of Canada; mentions Living Quarters. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 28 Oct 1976 3 (6) Encloses Bannermen; mentions the Queen’s Festival; asks Maxwell’s advice on publishing the play; suggests actresses for parts in the play; was arrested in Belfast last week. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 3 Nov 1976 (7) Refers to his plays, various writers and Willie Fay. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 6 Jan 1977 (8) Refers to the casting for his new play; has revised the script; will send a copy of the finished script. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 16 Feb 1977 (9) Went to the launch of Jennifer Johnston’s new book; refers to Faith Healer. Typescript, 1 page, 1 sheet. 19 April 1977 (10) Refers to a piece that Maxwell has written about him; discusses recurring themes in his plays; mentions David Hammond and Seán Heaney. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 19 May 1977 (11) Refers to Volunteers; is doing a reading in Lille; hopes to arrange more lectures; mentions John Boyd, John Montague and Thomas Kilroy. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 20 Oct 1977 (12) Asks if Hammond’s film on the life of John Hewitt can be included in the Vancouver conference; refers to negotiations for Faith Healer; has visited Greece. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 30 Nov 1977 (13) Arranging meetings; family matters. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 12 Dec 1977 (14) Confirms readings; tells of his travelling plans; spent New Year at Glenties; mentions Conor Cruise O’Brien and J.B. Keane. Mainly typescript, 1 page, 1 sheet. 7 Jan 1978 (15) Confirms his schedule; asks if Maxwell can put up his wife as well; refers to the casting of Faith Healer. Typescript, 1 page, 1 sheet. 30 Jan 1978 (16) Goes over his travelling plans; mentions Borstal Boy. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 14 Feb 1978 (17) Tells of the death of his mother; apologises for cancelling his trip. Typescript, 1 page, 1 sheet. 27 Feb 1978 (18) Will go to Ballymanus at Easter; mentions Faith Healer; spoke at a dinner given by the Ballymoney drama festival committee. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 13 March 1978 (19) Responds to an idea by Maxwell; is hosting Maxwell’s daughter; working on a new play. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 20 March 1978 4 (20) Saw a play in Dublin last week; refers to Faith Healer. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 18 Sept 1978 (21) Mentions his plans for the week; refers to Faith Healer; gives news of Deane, Kilroy and Mahon. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 3 Oct 1978 (22) Mentions Faith Healer and Aristocrats; Greek theatre putting on a production of The Freedom of the City; going to New York soon. Typescript, 2 pages, 1 sheet. 7 Nov 1978 (23) Faith Healer opening soon; mentions Aristocrats; Heaney going to Harvard for four months; invites Maxwell to the opening of Faith Healer. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 4 Jan 1979 (24) Postcard; tells of his travel plans; mentions Seamus Heaney; rehearsing Faith Healer. 15 Feb 1979 (25) Working on a new play, Translations; refers to the Kentucky theatre festival. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 21 Oct 1979 (26) Invites Maxwell to Co Donegal; refers to a production of Volunteers; has finished writing Translations; went to Galway last week. Typescript, 1 page, 1 sheet. 2 Nov 1979 Ms. 36,252/ 3 33 items. Jan 1980-April 1997 1 Refers to Translations and the press conference; looking forward to seeing Maxwell; about to buy a new house; visited Dublin. 4 pages, 2 sheets. 2 Jan 1980 2 Postcard; refers to Faith Healer and Translations; thanks Maxwell for invitation. 20 Feb 1980 3 Refers to a production of Translations; arranges to meet up with Maxwell over Christmas; mentions Kilroy, McGahern and Heaney. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 12 Nov 1980 4 Is sorry to have missed Maxwell at Christmas; refers to Translations, Faith Healer and Three Sisters; will send a copy of Three Sisters. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 25 Jan 1981 5 Invites Maxwell to his translation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters. 8 Sept 1981 6 Includes a photocopied photograph; enjoyed his tour of Northern Ireland; will visit various places in the south; has cancelled tour of America. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 20 Oct 1982 5 7 Is moving house; refers to Rudkin’s The Saxon Shores; The Communication Cord opening soon. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 15 Jan 1983 8 Has sent Maxwell some pamphlets; hopes to see him soon. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 12 Sept 1983 9 Postcard; thanks Maxwell for visiting him; hopes to meet again soon. 29 Sept 1983 10 Is planning to do a translation for Field Day; invites Maxwell to visit. 2 pages, 1 sheet. 6 Dec 1983 11 Postcard; asks when Maxwell is visiting. 7 Feb 1984 12 Postcard; thanks Maxwell for coming to launch; is looking forward to seeing him.
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