Ffeil / File AI/1 - Letters to John Pikoulis from various correspondents

William Dieneman was born Wolfgang Dienemann in Cottbus, Germany. He fled Nazi persecution at the outbreak of the Second World War, arriving in Britain in January 1939. In 1970, he was appointed Librarian at Aberystwyth University, remaining in the post until his retirement in 1995. See, for example: https://wp-research.aber.ac.uk/nsrefugeeswales/history/background-of-refugees/refugee-profiles/william-dieneman/.

For Dr F. G. Cowley, see, for example: https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/author/cowley-f-g?cm_sp=det-_-srp-_-author and https://www.waterstones.com/author/f-g-cowley/3636778).

The poet and literary critic Alun Llywelyn-Williams was born in Cardiff and studied Welsh and History at the University College of South Wales & Monmouthshire. He served as an officer with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers from 1940 to 1945. Amongst his publications are three collections of his poetry. The Dictionary of Welsh Biography refers to him as "the foremost Welsh poet of the Second World War" (see https://biography.wales/article/s12-LLYW-ALU-1913#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=14&manifest=https%3A%2F%2Fdamsssl.llgc.org.uk%2Fiiif%2F2.0%2F4635324%2Fmanifest.json&xywh=591%2C77%2C4411%2C3808). See also, for example: Papurau Alun Llywelyn-Williams: Cyfnod HTV, Emyr Humphreys Papers and Papurau W. J. Gruffydd at NLW.

Ellen Smith Dunlap was born in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated in Library Science from the University of Texas, Austin in 1974. She was Research Librarian at the Humanities Research Center (now the Harry Ransom Center) at the University of Texas, Austin from 1973 to 1983. See, for example: https://www.americanantiquarian.org/ellen-dunlap and https://www.wwohp.org/interview-list/ellen-dunlap.

For Victor Golightly, see, for example: https://archives.library.wales/index.php/victor-golightly, https://www.uwp.co.uk/book/welsh-writing-in-english-v8/ and https://www.awwe.org/volume-6-2000.html

Cynthia Rogerson is an American-born writer of mainstream literary fiction set in Scotland and California. Originally from California, she now lives in the Scottish Highlands. (Wikipedia (paraphrased))

Born in Philadelphia, PA, Eric Homberger lectured in American literature at the University of Exeter from 1969 to 1970 and at the University of East Anglia, Norwich from 1970 to 1988, where, in 1988, he was appointed Reader in American literature. He served as visiting member of faculty at the University of Minnesota from 1977 to 1978 and, from 1991 to 1992, was Visiting Professor at the University of New Hampshire (see, for example: https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/homberger-eric-ross-1942).

Dame Felicitas Corrigan, born Kathleen Corrigan in Liverpool, entered Stanbrook Abbey's Benedictine community in 1933. Amongst her many writings is a biography of the novelist, poet, playwright and translator Helen Waddell (1889-1965). See, for example: https://www.stanbrookabbey.org.uk/site.php?id=17. The title 'Dame' is given to English Benedictine nuns in preference to 'Sister' (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/oct/23/guardianobituaries#:~:text=Dame%20Felicitas%20%2D%20the%20title%20Dame,Abbey%20in%20Callow%20End%2C%20Worcestershire).

Archivist Louisa Hopkins Bowen studied at Skidmore College, Wayne State University and New York University. She worked for five years as Curator of Manuscripts at the Morris Library, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (https://www.siue.edu/lovejoy-library/archives/bowen.shtml).

Formerly a lecturer in bibliography at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, John Harris has edited numerous works by the Anglo-Welsh writer, novelist and playwright Caradoc Evans and written extensively on Anglo-Welsh publishing history (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bibliographical-Guide-Twenty-four-Anglo-Welsh-Authors/dp/0708312330). He is the author of A Bibliographical Guide to Twenty-four Modern Anglo-Welsh Writers (University of Wales Press: Cardiff, 1994).

Horst S. Jarka was born near Vienna and first went to the United States in 1951 as one of the first Austrian Fulbright Scholars, studying American Literature at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He spent thirty years as lecturer in German language and literature at the University of Montana (https://fulbright.org/2021/02/09/remembering-horst-s-jarka-fulbrighter-from-austria-1951/).

Jacqueline Banerjee studied at King's College, London. She has lectured in English Literature in Canada, Ghana, India, England and Japan, where she was Visiting Lecturer at Kobe College, Okadayama. She returned to England from Japan in 2001. Jacqueline Banerjee is currently Editor-in-Chief and Webmaster of the Victorian Web (https://victorianweb.org/index.html).

Meredydd Evans, known colloquially as Merêd, was a collector, editor, historian and performer of the folk music of Wales and a major figure in Welsh media for over half a century (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredydd_Evans); see also, for example: http://folk.wales/magazine/?p=443, https://blog.library.wales/celebrating-the-life-of-mered/ and many other sources.

For Professor John Harris Paterson, see, for example: https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/50105/page/13 and https://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/alumni/obituaries/

John Bieneman became the first male principal of Lowther College in 1974 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowther_College, https://www.newa.wales/subjects/education/lowther-college/).

For Paul Willetts, see https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2061536/paul-willetts/

Edward James (Ted) Hughes was a poet, translator and children's writer. He was Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998.

Paul Gerard O'Prey is Professor of Modern Literature at the University of Roehampton. In 1977, O'Prey went to work for the poet and novelist Robert Graves at his home in Deià, Mallorca.

Bert Harden met Alun Lewis at Longmoor military camp in Hampshire following both men's enlistment in 1940. Harden was assigned to the Royal Engineers and rose to the rank of Lance-Corporal. While at Longmoor, Harden started a Battalion newsheet, which he christened 'The Sandpiper', to which Alun Lewis regularly contributed (see John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), p. 120). See also under Letters to John Pikoulis from military colleagues of Alun Lewis and from military organisations.

Elizabeth Berridge, writer and novelist, was born in London. She married, in 1940, Reginald Moore, founder and editor of Modern Reading and other wartime literary magazines. In 1943 the family moved to Wales, where they lived until 1951. (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/dec/16/elizabeth-berridge-obituary (paraphrased))

Professor Bernard Knight, forensic pathologist and writer, was born in Cardiff and graduated from the Welsh National School of Medicine, University of Wales in 1954. He was appointed Home Office pathologist in 1965 and Professor of Forensic Pathology at the University of Wales College of Medicine in 1980. He began publishing his written works, which include crime fiction, historical novels, biographies and medical textbooks, over sixty years ago. In 1963, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Born in Paris and educated at the Sorbonne (University of Paris), Jean-Bertrand Barrère was Professor of French Literature at the University of Cambridge from 1954 to 1982.

The poet, critic, teacher and broadcaster Professor Jeremy Hooker was born in Warsash, Hampshire. Central to his work is a concern with the relationship between personal identity and place. (Wikipedia (paraphrased)). He published two books on the works of Alun Lewis, namely Selected Poems of Alun Lewis (London: Unwin, 1981), a volume containing a collection of Lewis's poetry jointly selected by Jeremy Hooker and Gweno Lewis, and Inwards Where All the Battle is: A Selection of Alun Lewis's Writings from India (Gregynog Press, 1997).

Michael Foot served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party from 1980 to 1983.

Jean-Bertrand Barrère was Professor of French Literature at the University of Cambridge (see, for example: https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/fa14519d-a392-3d19-8dec-bfb4292dc48f). The 'Mr Gilbert' referenced at the beginning of the letter may refer to Jean Gilbert, who was librarian at Pontigny Abbey near Auxerre, France when Alun Lewis visited there in May 1937 (see indexed references in John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), also under Correspondence of Alun Lewis (photocopies, typescript copies and transcripts) and Letters to John Pikoulis from friends and acquaintances of Alun Lewis.

Derek Stanford was a British writer, known as a biographer, essayist and poet. He married the poet Julie Whitby (see, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Stanford_(writer)).

In 1947, Margaret Pereira was the first woman to be appointed to the scientific staff at the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory at Hendon, going on to become the first woman to be appointed Controller of the Home Office Forensic Science Service. In 1977, she was appointed Director of the Home Counties Forensic Science Laboratory in Aldermaston.

The United Africa Company (UAC) (letter from John A. Lloyd), formed in 1929, was a British company principally trading in West Africa. It became defunct in 1987 (see, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Africa_Company).

David Sims was an academic colleague of the novelist, poet, critic and teacher Kingsley Amis (see, for example: https://www.walesartsreview.org/kingsley-amis-and-swansea-part-one/). He lectured in English at University College Swansea from 1946 to 1984.

Founded in 1913, the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust is an independent, endowed charitable trust based in Scotland that operates throughout Great Britain and Ireland (http://carnegieuktrust.org.uk/).

The Observer is a British Sunday newspaper, sister paper to The Guardian and The Guardian Weekly. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. (https://www.theguardian.com/observer)

The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland is a charitable trust established by Andrew Carnegie in 1901 for the benefit of the universities of Scotland, their students and staff (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Trust_for_the_Universities_of_Scotland).

Opened in 1934, Manchester Central Library is the headquarters of the city's library and information service (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Central_Library).

Meic Stephens was a literary editor, journalist, translator, and poet. He was literature director of the Welsh Arts Council from 1967 to 1990.

The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England was a government advisory body responsible for documenting buildings and monuments of archaeological, architectural and historical importance in England. It was established in 1908 and was merged with English Heritage in 1999 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Commission_on_the_Historical_Monuments_of_England).

Founded in 1919, Faber and Faber Limited, usually abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faber_and_Faber). See also faber.co.uk.

Founded in 1875, A P Watt is the oldest literary agency in the world, representing some of the foremost British and Irish writers of the 20th century (http://www.writewords.org.uk/directory/detail_page.asp?subtypeid2=35&directory_id=5232)

Constable & Co. were founded in 1795. In 1999 they merged with Robinson Publishing and became known as Constanble & Robinson Ltd. In 2014, the company was purchased by Little, Brown (https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/imprint/lbbg/constable/page/little-brown-books/lbbg-imprint-constable/).

The British Medical Association (BMA) is the trade union and professional body for doctors and medical students in the UK (https://www.bma.org.uk/).

Sir Basil Henry Blackwell was born in Oxford, the son of Benjamin Henry Blackwell (1849–1924), founder of Blackwell's bookshop in Oxford, which went on to become the Blackwell family's publishing and bookshop empire. The publishing arm is now part of Wiley-Blackwell (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Blackwell)

Established in 1973, the British Library is a research library in London which also serves as the national library of the United Kingdom. It is one of the two largest libraries in the world, along with the United States' Library of Congress (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Library).

George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, founded at the turn of the 20th century, was a publisher of high quality speciality books. In 1992, the company became part of the Scottish publishers Chambers Harrap. In 2009, the Harrap section of Chambers Harrap was closed and relocated to Paris (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_G._Harrap_and_Co.).

Founded in 1907, the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth is the national legal deposit library of Wales and is the biggest library in Wales, holding over 6.5 million books and periodicals and the largest collections of archives, portraits, maps and photographic images in Wales (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_Wales). See also https://www.library.wales/.

Established in 1744, Sotheby's is a British-founded American multinational corporation. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotheby's). See also https://www.sothebys.com/en/.

The writer, poet and playwright Ronald Frederick Henry Duncan was born Ronald Frederick Henry Dunkelsbuhler in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe). He is best known for his poem The Horse and for preparing the libretto for Benjamin Britten's opera The Rape of Lucretia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Duncan).

John Davies (letter dated 16 December [?1980]) is most likely the writer John Alun Davies, author of Poetry of Darkness: Alun Lewis's Indian Experience (University of Wales Press, 1969) (see https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Poetry_of_Darkness.html?id=-GkjyAEACAAJ&redir_esc=y).

Formed in 1849, the Inland Revenue was a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation. In 2005, it was merged with HM Customs and Excise to form HM Revenue and Customs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_Revenue). See also https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs.

It appears that the former Comyns Close Clinic is now the PFAS Synergy Centre (https://www.mypipassessment.co.uk/consultation-centres/details/13046-pfas-synergy-centre-the-old-surgery-canning-town/).

Founded in 1913, the New Statesman is a political and cultural news magazine published in London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Statesman). See also https://www.newstatesman.com/.

Sir Stephen Harold Spender was a poet, novelist and essayist whose work concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle. He taught at various American institutions, including the University of South Carolina. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Spender (paraphrased)).

Woodrow Lyle Wyatt, Baron Wyatt of Weeford, was a politician, author, journalist and broadcaster. He volunteered for military service with the Suffolk Regiment ten days before the outbreak of the Second World War and rose to the rank of Major. He was posted to Normandy on D-Day plus one and was mentioned in despatches (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wyatt)

Established in 1836, the National Library of India is located in Kolkata, India and is India's largest library by volume and public record (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_India#:~:text=The%20National%20Library%20is%20located,and%20Government%20of%20India%20holidays).

John Alfred Atkins, writer and teacher, was born in Carshalton, Surrey. Following graduation from Bristol University in 1938, he was appointed assistant editor of the socialist magazine Tribune, a post he would relinquish in 1943 on being called up to the army. See, for example: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/may/18/obituary-john-atkins. See also John Pikoulis; Alun Lewis; A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), p. 257. For Tribune magazine, see https://tribunemag.co.uk/; also John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984), p. 156.

Born in Talybont-on-Usk, Breconshire, Roland Glyn Mathias was a writer, poet and literary critic. Along with poet, lecturer, editor and critic Raymond Garlick, he co-founded in 1949 the literary magazine Dock Leaves, which, in 1957, became The Anglo-Welsh Review. Mathias edited the newly-named magazine from 1961 to 1976. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Mathias)

Rudolf John Frederick Lehmann was an English poet, lecturer and man of letters. He founded the periodicals New Writing and The London Magazine and the publishing house of John Lehmann Limited. His three-volume autobiography comprises Whispering Gallery (1955), I Am My Brother (1960) and The Ample Proposition (1966) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lehmann).

Timothy d’Arch Smith is a bibliographer, reviewer and antiquarian bookseller with a special interest in the occult and the curious (https://mandrake.uk.net/timothy-darch-smith/#:~:text=Timothy%20d'Arch%20Smith%20is,dimension%2C%20and%20price%20was%20symbolic); see also, for example: https://www.sheila-markham.com/interviews/timothy-d-arch-smith.html.

Born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Professor Sir Hrothgar John Habakkuk was an economic historian. He was appointed Principal of Jesus College, Oxford in 1967 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Habakkuk).

For Howard Mallatratt, see http://www.mhps.org.uk/Web%20article%20MHCC%20July%202013.pdf.

Alan Hancox was an antiquarian bookseller based in Cheltenham and directed the Cheltenham Literature Festival during the 1980s. He registered as a conscientious objector during World War II (https://thelisteningstationcheltenham.tumblr.com/post/174118795194/my-late-husband-alan-hancox-who-was-an); see also, for example: https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/books/author/alan-hancox/ and https://www.bookscout.biz/company-alan-hancox-fine-books-in-cheltenham-69747.

Originally from Pembrokeshire, Job Lewis was a miner and the paternal grandfather of Alun Lewis.

The Plaid Cymru politician Cefin Campbell was born in Glanaman. He is a former lecturer in Welsh at Swansea University and in Welsh Language and Literature and Welsh History at Cardiff University. He has served as Member of the Senedd for the Mid and West Wales region since 2021.

For David Leslie Davies, see, for example: https://cvhs.org.uk/hanesarchive/2021_Hanes_95.pdf and https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/510143/full-print.

Academic, cultural historian, author and former BBC programme editor and broadcaster David Burton (Dai) Smith was born in Rhondda. He was lecturer in history at what is now Cardiff University prior to being appointed Professor in the History of Wales in 1985, holding the post until 1992.

For Jeff Morgan, see, for example: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1419061/

Language note: Correspondence with Ulrich Schaefer contains some German and French.