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Manuscript and typescript drafts by Berta Ruck, [1955]-[1974x1978], of chapters of projected and published autobiographical works, mainly concerned with her life in Wales.
They include a manuscript draft of the first chapter of An Asset to Wales (London, 1970), [?1969] (ff. 1-24); drafts, mainly typescript, of various chapters for projected works entitled 'Welsh Harlequinade' and 'Fanfare for Wales', [1974x1978] (ff. 25-137); a typescript poem entitled 'Stair-case Remorse', [1970x1978] (f. 138); a typescript of various fragments of fiction and autobiographical prose, [1970x1978] (ff. 139-144); a cutting of an article by Ruck, 'A Golden Prince Came to the Castle', [1955] (f. 145); and a cut-out watercolour sketch of a young man (f. 146). There are references to N. C. Hunter (ff. 47-50), Stephen Peet, producer of the 1970 television documentary featuring Ruck (ff. 106-120), and to E. Nesbit (ff. 141-142).

Manuscripts of Berta Ruck, [c. 1890]-[1974x1978], including notebooks, 1906-1946; manuscripts and typescripts of literary and autobiographical works, 1955-[1974x1978]; letters, [c. 1890]-1971; poetry, [1920s]-[1930s]; and sketches, [1900x1920].
The notebooks typically contain notes and ideas for fiction, drawings and sketches, pasted in letters and ephemera, and journal entries. These detail her home life and travels and give news of her sons Arthur and Bill Oliver, husband Oliver Onions and other family and friends.

Papers, [c. 1890]-[1974x1978], of Berta Ruck, including notebooks containing journal entries, ideas for fiction, newspaper cuttings and ephemera, 1906-1973; literary and autobiographical manuscripts, typescripts and photocopies, [1950x1955]-[1974x1978]; letters, [c. 1890]-[1972]; poetry, [1920s]-[1930s]; and sketches, [1900x1920].

Papers of Berta Ruck, [20 cent., third ¼], comprising volumes of notebooks, 1951-1973, and a photocopy, [20 cent., third ¼], of a 1907 children's story 'The edge of the world'.

Miscellaneous papers of Berta Ruck, 1902-[early 1970s], including autograph and typescript drafts of verse, [1920s]-[1930s], many in multiple copies (ff. 1-123); lecture notes, [c. 1935]-[c. 1945] (ff. 124-224); a short story, 'April Folly', [c. 1935], apparently related to her novel Half Past Kissing Time (London, 1936) (ff. 225-248); and some thirteen letters to the author in English and German, [1903x1904]-1971 (ff. 264-283).
The correspondents include Clement Scott, [1903x1904] (f. 264), Marda Vanne, 9 October 1936 (f. 280), Harold Nicolson, 14 June 1962 (f. 281, on the death of his wife, Vita Sackville-West), and Quentin Bell, September 1971 (ff. 282-283, concerning his biography of Virginia Woolf); there are also three letters, 1929, from 'Harry', her Austrian lover (ff. 265-272, mostly in German). Also included are two leaves from Ruck's journal, June 1930 (ff. 249-250); reminiscences, [early 1970s], of Lydia Lopokova (ff. 251-259) with a photograph of her, [?1920s] (f. 260); press cuttings of an article by Ruck, September 1936 (f. 261), and of two articles relating to Virginia Woolf, 1972 (ff. 262-263); W. R. Oliver's school report at Shrewsbury School, 1929 (f. 284); programme for 'My Lady Molly' at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, 1902 (ff. 285-286); and page proofs for Chapter 8 of A Smile for the Past (London, 1935) (ff. 287-292).

Thirteen notebooks, 1951-1973, containing journal entries; letters and postcards, many from relatives, literary agents and the media (relating in particular to her broadcasts on Welsh regional BBC programmes); photographs; ideas for fiction; and press cuttings of book reviews.

Notebook of Berta Ruck, July 1972-January 1973, including letters from Rupert Croft-Cooke, July 1972, Elaine Morgan, [n.d.], and Gwyn Thomas, December 1971; and sketches for 'The Wild Elopement' (see also NLW MS 23745D for 'The Reckless Elopement'), and 'The Wishful Thought'.

Notebook of Berta Ruck, October 1971-June 1972, including letters from Cyril Connolly, [n.d.], and Brocard Sewell, February 1972.

Manuscript draft, 1972, by Berta Ruck of a short story, 'The Reckless Elopement' (correct order of text ff. 1-21, 26-29, 25, 30-32, 22-24), with pasted in ink sketches by the author (ff. 2, 25 verso, 33, 34).

An incomplete manuscript and typescript draft of Berta Ruck's family history Ancestral Voices (London, 1972), based on the correspondence of her D'Arcy and De La Warr ancestors and conversations with her sister, Maud.
The volume contains drafts of the Foreword (ff. 1-10) and Chapters 2-3, 5-6, 8-10, 12-14, 16-20, 28-30, 33-34, 37-40, 43, 45-48, 51-53 and 55 (ff. 11-321, 332-382). 'Interval' (ff. 328-331) is an early draft of Chapter 51; 'Interval (for Argument)' (ff. 322-327) became part of Chapter 11. The volume consists of manuscript and typescript sections with annotations, often with fragments cut and pasted together to form single leaves.

Notebook of Berta Ruck, July 1970-January 1971, including letters from Shirley Hazzard, July-September 1970.

Notebook of Berta Ruck, April-October 1971, including a letter from Anthony Swerling, June 1971.

The printer's copy, [1969x1970], in typescript, of Berta Ruck, An Asset to Wales (London, 1970), with manuscript additions and emendations by the author.
In addition to minor deletions throughout, there is an entire deleted section (4 ff.) from Chapter 2, most of f. 26 having been crossed through and ff. 27-29 having been omitted entirely. Some folios consist of two or more partial leaves pasted together.

Typescript, 1969, by Beryl Gonzales of her apparently unpublished work, 'Berta Ruck. A Study of Literary Romance', containing publishing details and plot summaries of Berta Ruck's novels and autobiographical works, 1914-1967, together with extracts from reviews of them.

Notebook of Berta Ruck, August 1968-October 1969, including letters from Glyn Tegai Hughes, August 1968, and Nancy Mitford, December 1968; and notes relating to her novel Ancestral Voices (London, 1972).

Notebook of Berta Ruck, October 1967-June 1968, including letters from Rupert Croft-Cooke, February 1968, and Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies, [n.d.].

Notebook of Berta Ruck, January-August 1967, including letters from George Mackay Brown, March 1967, Heather Jenner, February 1966-March 1967; and Glyn Jones, May 1967.

Notebook of Berta Ruck, 1966, including letters from Heather Jenner, October 1966, Professor Gwyn Jones, September 1966, Llywelyn Phillips, August-September 1966, Denise Robins and Sylvia Thorpe, November 1966, and Raleigh Trevelyan, February 1966.

Notebook of Berta Ruck, July 1964-[August] 1965, including letters from William Condry, September 1965, Dyfnallt Morgan, December 1964, and Raleigh Trevelyan, February-March 1965.