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Lot 96
TWENTIETH-CENTURY LITERATURE The remaining papers of Alexander Stuart Frere of Heinemann, including author correspondence, draft manuscripts and photographs
20 November 2024, 13:00 GMT
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £11,520 inc. premium
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TWENTIETH-CENTURY LITERATURE
The remaining papers of Alexander Stuart Frere of Heinemann, including author correspondence, draft manuscripts and photographs, comprising:
J.B. Priestley: c.60 autograph and typed letters, much on novels and publishing ("...these long novels of mine are not a clever stunt and a sort of pastiche of the older novelists, but my natural way of expressing myself..."), the American Press ("...the attitude of the press here, particularly the stinking Hearst papers, towards England and the crisis is enough to make you sick..."), politics and the atomic bomb ("...very bad news... no real world machinery for making proper use of such power..."), discussing book rights, on Anthony Powell ("...it is a damned sight easier writing 12 novels about the same people than it is creating different sets of people for 12 different novels..."), his marriage, visits to the Freres ("...I left the cord of my dressing gown attached to the electric light in my bedroom... Could I have it please?..."); with thirty-five letters from Jacquetta Priestley, mostly letters of thanks, one asking Frere to contribute to C.N.D.; a number of Frere's copy replies; sheets of accounts for the Good Companions Trust, printed Homosexual Law Reform Society Annual Report, 1962-3, correspondence and photographs of his fortieth anniversary dinner hosted by Heinemann, 1962, over 120 pages, 4to and smaller, Isle of Wight, Devon, Hampstead, USA, Alveston, and elsewhere, January 1930 to October 1977; portrait photograph of Priestley as a young man, signed and inscribed "A.S. Frere/ from his friend/ J.B. Priestley", framed and glazed, with frame 220 x 155mm.
Rebecca West: c.17 autograph letters and postcards, sending corrections to proofs of Noël Coward's autobiography of 1937 ("...He seems to have heard of so little of what is going on in the world... quite staggering..."), long letter relating a conversation with H.G. Wells regarding their son Anthony ("...told me with the greatest sweetness, the greatest kindness, the greatest wisdom... he thought the boy had fallen into a silly set...") and justifying Anthony's behaviour, news of family and mutual friends, copy of letter from Harold Nicolson on his criticism of Edgar Wallace with additional comments by West ("...This means a lot from Harold..."), an angry letter regarding Elizabeth von Arnim's biographer, etc., c.32 pages, 4to, Tisbury, London, High Wycombe, 1937 to 1981; with manuscript review of William Gerhardie's novel Futility, 1922; photograph of West and her ?son, captioned June 1936 on reverse
Noël Coward: Carbon typescript of his play Peace in Our Time, 80 leaves, buff wrappers, 4to (256 x 204mm.), [c.1946]; carbon typescript of his autobiography Future Indefinite, 500 leaves, pale blue wrappers, 4to (258 x 200mm.), [c.1954]; with a Christmas card signed "Love to all Freres and Mice xxx Noël"
Richard Church: Draft autobiography Over the Bridge, written in ink in ten manuscript notebooks, each with ownership inscription, c.580 pages, three green cloth with initials RC on upper cover, seven stapled green wrappers, 4to (206 x 128mm.), 1954; volume ten containing manuscript of 'The Nightingale', dated 10 February 1947 (10)
W. Somerset Maugham: large quantity of material including over 25 autograph and typed letters, on various subjects including the death of Pat's brother in 1944, film rights, his health, invitations and thanks, 34 pages, 4to, [1934-1962]; with other papers including letters from Maugham's assistant Alan Searle, carbon copies of outgoing correspondence from Frere, various publishing and TV agreements, copies of essays, Maugham's biography, etc.; 18 black and white snapshots; album of 29 black and white press photographs of Somerset Maugham, ABC television interview, each 257 x 204mm., 14 October 1958; photostat typescript of Looking Back, with accompanying note by Frere on his refusal to publish, 7 August 1963; Gin & Bitters, by A. Riposte, Heinemann, 1931 with autograph note by Frere on inside front cover ("...This book is by Mrs Elinor Mordaunt... none but a few proof copies was ever printed. In a revised form it was subsequently published by Secker who yielded to pressure... & withdrew the book..."); with a copy of the American edition, Farrar & Reinhart, 1931; file of business papers (1940-1981) including Frere's copy correspondence, telegrams, financial papers regarding the estate of Alan Searle, various printed pamphlets, sale catalogues, etc.
Correspondence from other authors to Frere and his wife, including George Millar (c.50); Hugh Walpole (c.35); Edith Sitwell (6, with a Christmas card); Tom MacGreevy; H.E. Bates; R.F. Delderfield; Elizabeth Enright; Victor Gollancz; John Masefield; John Middleton Murry (2); 'Pino' Orioli; C.P. Snow; Thornton Wilder, etc.; with menu for the Savoy Restaurant, 24 June 1930 signed by fifteen authors in pencil including H.G. Wells, Frank Swinnerton, John Drinkwater; Frere's list of Heinemann authors at the time of the Tilling takeover; presentation copy of T.H. White, Burke's Steeragei, Collins, 1938, inscribed by the author to Pat Wallace "...and this time she doesn't have to read it or pay for it..."; printed Air Force List, 1932, with spoof title page 'What's Wrong with the Air Force? By Pat Wallace', signed in pencil by 28 authors including H.G. Wells, Noel Streatfeild, J.B. Priestley; unpublished corrected typescript of Liza Maugham's memoirs, [c.1964/5] with associated correspondence (quantity)
J.B. Priestley: c.60 autograph and typed letters, much on novels and publishing ("...these long novels of mine are not a clever stunt and a sort of pastiche of the older novelists, but my natural way of expressing myself..."), the American Press ("...the attitude of the press here, particularly the stinking Hearst papers, towards England and the crisis is enough to make you sick..."), politics and the atomic bomb ("...very bad news... no real world machinery for making proper use of such power..."), discussing book rights, on Anthony Powell ("...it is a damned sight easier writing 12 novels about the same people than it is creating different sets of people for 12 different novels..."), his marriage, visits to the Freres ("...I left the cord of my dressing gown attached to the electric light in my bedroom... Could I have it please?..."); with thirty-five letters from Jacquetta Priestley, mostly letters of thanks, one asking Frere to contribute to C.N.D.; a number of Frere's copy replies; sheets of accounts for the Good Companions Trust, printed Homosexual Law Reform Society Annual Report, 1962-3, correspondence and photographs of his fortieth anniversary dinner hosted by Heinemann, 1962, over 120 pages, 4to and smaller, Isle of Wight, Devon, Hampstead, USA, Alveston, and elsewhere, January 1930 to October 1977; portrait photograph of Priestley as a young man, signed and inscribed "A.S. Frere/ from his friend/ J.B. Priestley", framed and glazed, with frame 220 x 155mm.
Rebecca West: c.17 autograph letters and postcards, sending corrections to proofs of Noël Coward's autobiography of 1937 ("...He seems to have heard of so little of what is going on in the world... quite staggering..."), long letter relating a conversation with H.G. Wells regarding their son Anthony ("...told me with the greatest sweetness, the greatest kindness, the greatest wisdom... he thought the boy had fallen into a silly set...") and justifying Anthony's behaviour, news of family and mutual friends, copy of letter from Harold Nicolson on his criticism of Edgar Wallace with additional comments by West ("...This means a lot from Harold..."), an angry letter regarding Elizabeth von Arnim's biographer, etc., c.32 pages, 4to, Tisbury, London, High Wycombe, 1937 to 1981; with manuscript review of William Gerhardie's novel Futility, 1922; photograph of West and her ?son, captioned June 1936 on reverse
Noël Coward: Carbon typescript of his play Peace in Our Time, 80 leaves, buff wrappers, 4to (256 x 204mm.), [c.1946]; carbon typescript of his autobiography Future Indefinite, 500 leaves, pale blue wrappers, 4to (258 x 200mm.), [c.1954]; with a Christmas card signed "Love to all Freres and Mice xxx Noël"
Richard Church: Draft autobiography Over the Bridge, written in ink in ten manuscript notebooks, each with ownership inscription, c.580 pages, three green cloth with initials RC on upper cover, seven stapled green wrappers, 4to (206 x 128mm.), 1954; volume ten containing manuscript of 'The Nightingale', dated 10 February 1947 (10)
W. Somerset Maugham: large quantity of material including over 25 autograph and typed letters, on various subjects including the death of Pat's brother in 1944, film rights, his health, invitations and thanks, 34 pages, 4to, [1934-1962]; with other papers including letters from Maugham's assistant Alan Searle, carbon copies of outgoing correspondence from Frere, various publishing and TV agreements, copies of essays, Maugham's biography, etc.; 18 black and white snapshots; album of 29 black and white press photographs of Somerset Maugham, ABC television interview, each 257 x 204mm., 14 October 1958; photostat typescript of Looking Back, with accompanying note by Frere on his refusal to publish, 7 August 1963; Gin & Bitters, by A. Riposte, Heinemann, 1931 with autograph note by Frere on inside front cover ("...This book is by Mrs Elinor Mordaunt... none but a few proof copies was ever printed. In a revised form it was subsequently published by Secker who yielded to pressure... & withdrew the book..."); with a copy of the American edition, Farrar & Reinhart, 1931; file of business papers (1940-1981) including Frere's copy correspondence, telegrams, financial papers regarding the estate of Alan Searle, various printed pamphlets, sale catalogues, etc.
Correspondence from other authors to Frere and his wife, including George Millar (c.50); Hugh Walpole (c.35); Edith Sitwell (6, with a Christmas card); Tom MacGreevy; H.E. Bates; R.F. Delderfield; Elizabeth Enright; Victor Gollancz; John Masefield; John Middleton Murry (2); 'Pino' Orioli; C.P. Snow; Thornton Wilder, etc.; with menu for the Savoy Restaurant, 24 June 1930 signed by fifteen authors in pencil including H.G. Wells, Frank Swinnerton, John Drinkwater; Frere's list of Heinemann authors at the time of the Tilling takeover; presentation copy of T.H. White, Burke's Steeragei, Collins, 1938, inscribed by the author to Pat Wallace "...and this time she doesn't have to read it or pay for it..."; printed Air Force List, 1932, with spoof title page 'What's Wrong with the Air Force? By Pat Wallace', signed in pencil by 28 authors including H.G. Wells, Noel Streatfeild, J.B. Priestley; unpublished corrected typescript of Liza Maugham's memoirs, [c.1964/5] with associated correspondence (quantity)
Footnotes
This lot forms part of an archive of letters and papers from the personal collection of publisher Alexander Stuart Frere-Reeves (1892-1984), known as 'Frere' to his friends, which brings together many of the most important authors of the twentieth-century, and demonstrates a wide web of influence and relationships. As managing editor of William Heinemann, he built up an extraordinary list of talent represented here in correspondence from, amongst others, John Steinbeck, Thomas Wolfe, Rebecca West and her lover H.G. Wells, W. Somerset Maugham, Noël Coward, and J.B. Priestley, a lifelong friend with whom he edited Granta. Frere tended towards the younger, more 'modern' authors, several of whom became close friends, as is shown by these intimate letters, which blur the lines between personal and business relationships: '...He had a flair for detecting talent, and encouraging it, and the gift of establishing friendships with the people he liked and respected, among whom were most of his authors. He prided himself on publishing authors rather than books only...' (obituary, The Times, 6 October 1984). As a young man he had an intense relationship with the novelist Elizabeth von Arnim, nearly 30 years his senior, their hitherto unpublished correspondence also offered here (see lot 91). Many of our letters are addressed to his second wife Patricia Marion Caldecott Wallace (1907-1995), writer, theatre critic and daughter of the author Edgar Wallace, most notably some revealing correspondence from her close friend Daphne du Maurier (see lot 92).
After leaving Christ's College, Cambridge, Frere's career began as a journalist on the London Evening News. He joined William Heinemann, a subsidiary of Doubleday, in 1923, rose rapidly within the firm and was made managing director in 1932 under the chairmanship of C.S. Evans when F.N. Doubleday sold his shares after the Wall Street crash. He resigned as president in 1961 and retired a year later to become advisor to The Bodley Head. His papers have remained in the family until now.
Provenance: Alexander Stuart Frere (1892-1984); thence by descent to the present owner.