Showing 11 results

Over two hundred letters, 1924-1967, from Alyse Gregory, widow of John Cowper Powys's brother, Llewelyn Powys, to Phyllis Playter. There are frequent references to family and friends, and to the publication and preservation of the correspondence and literary manuscripts of John Cowper Powys and Llewelyn Powys.

Forty-three letters, 1932-1942, from Alyse Gregory, author and wife of Llewelyn Powys, to James Venn, bookseller, of Weymouth, a Mr Dibben and another correspondent, with a postcard, 1937, from Llewelyn Powys to James Venn.

A typescript, [1927], of John Cowper Powys's essay 'Elusive America', published in the collection Elusive America, ed. Paul Roberts (London, 1994). The typescript is headed by a note, apparently in the hand of Llewelyn Powys (f. 1).

Letters from John Cowper Powys to his brother, Llewelyn Powys, [1923], his companion, Phyllis Playter, [?1924], 'George', 1958, and a 'Mr London', [?1940s], the latter dictated by Powys to Phyllis Playter; together with miscellaneous literary papers, which comprise drafts of poems, [c. 1900]-1953, including an early version of 'Samphire' (published in Horned Poppies ... (1986)) and of several unpublished anniversary poems addressed to Phyllis Playter; a draft, [?1900]-1902, of an unpublished preface to poems by Alfred de Kantzow; an ink and pencil sketch of the map which forms the end-papers of Powys's novel Ducdame (1925); and drafts of the opening of a philosophical work, 1938, and of a speech in Welsh, [1935x1954], the latter composed by Powys while he was living in Corwen.

Forty-two letters and three postcards, 1935, 1939, 1940-1941, 1943-1946, 1948-1949, 1950-1951 and undated, to Phyllis Playter from John Cowper Powys's sister, Gertrude Powys. The letters contain mainly personal and family news, including the marriage of Gertrude's nephew, Peter Powys Grey, son of Marian Powys, to Ty (Barbara Tyler). Some of the letters are illustrated with small ink drawings by Gertrude and there is also a larger pen-and-ink sketch (f. 83) of sheep in a landscape. Enclosures comprise two self-addressed postcards and a press cutting relating to Llewelyn Powys's Swiss Essays (1947). There are occasional notes on the envelopes by Powys biographer Morine Krissdottir.

Twenty-two letters, 1951-1952, to John Cowper Powys from his sister, Gertrude Powys, containing mostly personal and family news, including Gertrude's response to a piece for radio broadcast by John Cowper Powys relating to their brother Llewelyn Powys ('Lulu'), who died in 1939, and to reading John Cowper Powys's novel Porius (published 1951), and Gertrude's and her sister Philippa (Katie)'s memories and reflections on their mother, Mary Cowper Powys. There is an ink drawing by Gertrude of 'Mr Kent' [?her brother Littleton Charles Powys's landlord] on f. 19. Enclosures comprise three letters to Phyllis Playter from Gertrude, two letters to Gertrude from her sister-in-law Elizabeth (wife of her brother William Ernest ('Willie') Powys), two letters to John Cowper Powys from Katie Powys, and one letter to Phyllis Playter from Katie Powys. Written at the head of the final letter in this collection is a note signed 'J' which reads: 'This is our Gertrude's last letter she must have died soon after writing this.'

Letters, 1889-1914 and undated, to Mary Cowper Powys from her children (other than John Cowper Powys) and grandchildren as follows: son Albert Reginald (Bertie) (8 letters + 1 poem), [1891]-1908 and undated (one letter also signed by Bertie's wife Dorothy Mary Powys) (with notes on envelopes in Mary Cowper Powys's hand); son William Ernest (Willie) Powys (22 letters + 1 fragment + 1 poem), [1899]-1914 and undated (with notes on envelopes in Mary Cowper Powys's hand); daughter Gertrude Powys (3), 1889 and undated; son Llewelyn Powys (1), [?1906]; grandson Theodore ('Charles ('Dicky')') Powys (son of Theodore Francis Powys) (2), 1913 and undated; and grandson Littleton Alfred Powys (son of John Cowper Powys) (1), [1909]. Many of the letters are illustrated with ink and/or pencil drawings by the correspondent.

Letters to John Cowper Powys from his mother Mary Cowper Powys (1), 1914, his sister-in-law Violet Powys (wife of Theodore Francis Powys) (1) (partial), [c. 1915], his father the Reverend Charles Francis Powys (2), 1918, his sister-in-law Alyse Gregory (wife of Llewelyn Powys) (7), 1924-1925, 1929, 1939-1940, 1960, his brother Llewelyn Powys (4), 1925, 1927 and undated, his sister-in-law Mabel Powys (first wife of Littleton Charles Powys) (2), [1939] and undated, his sister Katie (Philippa) Powys (1 + 1 postcard), 1941, 1949; his sisters Gertrude Powys, Lucy Penny and 'Marz' [?Marian Powys] (1 telegram), 1942; his brother Littleton Charles Powys (1 telegram), [1942]; his sister Lucy Penny (1, with an enclosed letter from Lucy to Phyllis Playter) 1946; his companion Phyllis Playter (1), undated; his son Littleton Alfred Powys (1 [?Christmas card]), undated; and Ernest Angell (aka Peter Grey), father of Powys's nephew Peter Powys Grey (1), undated; also an envelope (contents removed) from his sister Marian Powys (1954).

Four letters, 1930, 1942, 1952, 1959, from John Cowper Powys to the poet and novelist Gamel Woolsey. The letters contain references to Powys's preparations prior to embarking on his novel Porius (1951), as well as his response to his brother Llewelyn Powys's novel Apples Be Ripe (1930) and to some writings of Gerald Brenan; there are references also to the death of Powys's sister Gertrude Powys in 1952. Enclosed with the letter of 1959 is a poem addressed to Gamel Woolsey by Powys entitled 'A Pity' (f. 17).

Letters from John Cowper Powys to his brother Llewelyn Powys (1), 1929, his sister-in-law Alyse Gregory, widow of Llewelyn (1), 1954, and Sally Powys, wife of John Cowper Powys's nephew Francis Llewellyn Powys (1), 1955. The letter to Llewelyn Powys contains a detailed account of John Cowper Powys and Phyllis Playter's Hillsdale home known as Phudd Bottom, while the letter to Sally Powys refers to Francis Powys's recent stay in hospital and is illustrated with ink drawings by John Cowper Powys (f. 11-verso).

Miscellaneous letters. Correspondents include Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, Llangollen, 1792-1827 and undated; Captain Hugh Middleton, Dublin Bay, 1659; Thomas Pennant, Downing, 1793; General Sir Thomas Picton, 1800-1814; Caradoc Evans, Richmond, 1930; Llewelyn Powys, 1926; Connop Thirlwall, Bishop of St Davids, 1841-1873; Evan Walters, artist, 1931.