University of Sheffield Library. Special Collections and Archives Ref: MS 318 Title: Bonett Mss.
Scope: A collection of both manuscript and printed works by John and Emery Bonett, the literary pseudonyms of John Hubert Arthur Coulson (1906-?) and his wife, Felicity Winifred Carter Coulson (1906-1995), including published and unpublished material, during the period 1936 to 1984 (where dated).
Dates: c.1936-1984 Level: Fonds Extent: 3 boxes Name of creators: John and Emery Bonett
Administrative / biographical history: The collection was donated to the Library in 2004 by Mr. Nick Coulson, the son of John and Emery Bonett, himself a graduate of the University of Sheffield. It consists of a range of both published and unpublished material, including novels, short stories, plays, and television and film scripts, written by John and Emery Bonett, both together and individually. Felicity Winifred Carter Coulson, who wrote under the pseudonym Emery Bonett, was born in Sheffield in 1906, daughter of the Carter family, of the firm of Carter and Sons (Sheffield) Ltd., manufacturing chemists. She wrote mystery novels, radio plays, television and film scripts, both alone and in co-operation with her husband. Many of the novels were published during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and a number of the plays broadcast on BBC radio or television during the same period. Emery Bonett died in 1995. Her husband was John Hubert Arthur Coulson, who wrote under the pseudonym John Bonett. He wrote a large number of short stories which were published in a range of newspapers and magazines in the 1950s, and he also published novels both individually and with his wife.
Related collections: None to date Source: By donation in September 2004 System of arrangement: By category
Subjects: Crime Fiction; Drama Names: Bonett, John; Bonett, Emery
Conditions of access: Academic researchers by appointment Restrictions: None Copyright: Mr. Nick Coulson Finding aids: Listed
Itemised list
318/1 Manuscripts
/1 Novels – Emery Bonett
/i Bright Hazard. 228 pages. Ts. and ms.
/ii She Wouldn’t Be Seen Dead. 239 pages. Ts.
/2 Radio Plays – Emery Bonett
/i Divorce from Reality. (First broadcast on BBC Light Programme on 16 Nov 1952). 30 pages. Ts. and ms.
/ii The Gossamer Syndrome. (First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 7 Apr 1975). 31 pages. Ts. and ms.
/iii Manalive. (First broadcast on BBC Home Service on 31 Oct 1962). 40 pages. Ts. and ms.
/iv One Fine Day. (First broadcast on BBC Home Service on 27 Oct 1944; broadcast on BBC TV on 14 and 15 Aug 1947). 148 pages. Ts.
/v The Puppet Master. (First broadcast on BBC Home Service on 29 Jan 1948; adapted for television Jan 1956). 34 pages. Ts. and ms.
/vi The Uninhibited Island. 47 pages. Ts. and ms.
/3 Radio Plays – John Bonett
/i The Claimant: a play for radio. 19 pages. Ts.
/4 Plays – Emery Bonett
/i Blue Murder. 30 pages. Ts.
/ii Change Partners. 81 pages. Ts.
/iii Funfair. 122 pages. Ts. and ms.
/iv High Pavement. 118 pages. Ts. and ms.
/v Scarlet Mrs. Clarence. 3 volumes, 114 pages. Ts. and ms.
/vi They Always Say Yes. 35 pages. Ts. and ms.
/5 Television Scripts – Emery Bonett
/i Don’t Tell Dora. 13 pages. Ts. and ms.
/ii The Sink Garden. 16 pages. Ts.
/6 Film Script - John and Emery Bonett
/i Children Galore. Full shooting script. (Directed by Terence Fisher; produced by Grendon Films; released in 1955). 78 pages. Ts. and ms.
318/2 Published Works
/1 Short Stories – John Bonett (Cuttings from newspapers and magazines)
/i Atalanta Vanquished. [n.d.] 1 page
/ii A Blooming Lyre. [n.d.] 1 page
/iii Cottage by the River. [n.d.] 1 page
/iv Detective on the Scent. [n.d.] 1 page
/v Spots on the Dandy Roll. [n.d.] 1 page
/vi Bill to Pay. Short Stories Magazine, [n.d.] 2 pages
/vii Child in Peril. Woman, [n.d.] 5 pages
/viii Epifanio’s Feast. Short Stories Magazine, [n.d.] 2 pages
/ix Light on his Feet. Evening Standard, [n.d.] 1 page
/x The Blackleg Ferret. Answers, 8 Sep 1951. 1 page
/xi Questionnaire. Evening Standard, 9 Oct 1951. 1 page
/xii Purpleheart. Evening Standard, 3 Dec 1951. 1 page
/xiii My Friend Hoo. ? Dec 1951. 10 pages
/xiv Room 666. Evening Standard, 3 Apr 1952. 1 page
/xv The Caterpillar Crime. Answers, 23 Aug 1952. 1 page
/xvi Light Exposure. Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 8 Nov 1952. 1 page
/xvii Wax in his Hands. Evening Standard, 1 Dec 1952. 1 page
/xviii Snow-white feather. 1953. 1 page
/xix Pretty Boy. Evening Standard, 12 Jan 1953. 1 page
/xx Room 666. Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 16 Apr 1953. 1 page
/xxi The 3-D Courtship of Benny Crambo, MacLean’s Magazine, 1 Feb 1954. 3 pages
/xxii This Way Madness, The Star Weekly, 15 May 1954. 2 pages
/xxiii Gin and poison, Manchester Evening Chronicle, 17 May 1954. 1 page
/2 Books i. Perish the Thought by John Bonett (London: Robert Hale, 1984) ii. Dead Lion by John and Emery Bonett (London: White Lion, 1974). Originally published by Michael Joseph, 1949 iii. Dead Lion by John and Emery Bonett (New York: Harper & Row, 1982). Originally published by Michael Joseph, 1949 iv. No Grave for a Lady by John and Emery Bonett (London: Michael Joseph, 1960) v. The Private Face of Murder by John and Emery Bonett (New York: Doubleday, 1966) vi. This Side Murder? by John and Emery Bonett (London: Michael Joseph: 1967) vii. The Sound of Murder by John and Emery Bonett (New York: Harper & Row, 1983) viii One Fine Day by Emery Bonett in Radio Theatre: plays specially written for broadcasting selected by Val Gielgud (London: MacDonald & Co., 1946) ix. A Girl Must Live by Emery Bonett (London: Arthur Barker Ltd., 1936) x. Never Go Dark by Emery Bonett (London: Heinemann, 1940) xi. Make Do With Spring by Emery Bonett (London: Heinemann, 1941) xii. High Pavement by Emery Bonett (London: Heinemann, 1944) xiii Better off dead by John and Emery Bonett (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1964) xiv No time to kill by John and Emery Bonett (London: Harrap, 1972) xv A banner for Pegasus by John and Emery Bonett (New York: Harper & Row, 1982)