Acc.12908 January 2008 Inventory Acc.12908 Gavin Ewart National Library of Scotland Manuscripts Division George IV Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1EW Tel: 0131-466 2812 Fax: 0131-466 2811 E-mail: manuscripts@nls.uk Trustees of the National Library of Scotland
Literary papers and correspondence, 1939-2005, of Gavin Buchanan Ewart (1916-2005). Gavin Ewart came from a conventional well-to-do Anglo-Scottish background and went to school at Wellington College in Berkshire. There, at the age of 17, he began to contribute poems to the most highly regarded poetry periodical of the day, Geoffrey Grigson s New Verse. These poems were very accomplished and (for the period) rather shocking pieces in the Auden tradition. His first book, Poems and Songs, was published just before his 23 rd birthday, in February 1939. But this early blaze was short-lived. Having taken his Cambridge degree in 1937, he was caught up in the Second World War and between 1940 and 1946 served eventually as a Captain - in the Royal Artillery, fighting through both North Africa and Italy. During these years, and thereafter until the early 1960s he published hardly any poetry. On demobilisation, he served as a functionary for Editions Poetry London and for the British Council, before becoming an advertising copywriter in 1952. In 1956 he married Margaret (Margo) Adelaide Bennett (b.1922) and they had two children, Jane Susan (b.1956) and Julian Robert (b.1958). It was partly through the inspiration of meeting some younger fellow poets - most notably Peter Porter - during his time as a copywriter that Ewart began to write again, and with new vigour. He rejoined the literary circuit in 1964, with the publication of his book Londoners. Pleasures of the Flesh followed in 1966, and his distinctive voice began to be heard in verse that was witty, nimble, comprehensible, and metrically resourceful, able to handle the erotic and the satirical with equal verve and confidence. Within the next quarter-century, Ewart published well over a dozen substantial new books of poetry, along with many small pamphlets, and was editor of a number of anthologies. He was made redundant as an advertising copyrighter in 1971, and after a brief spell teaching resolved to make a living as a poet. Ewart was fruitful in his more advanced years - he acknowledged this in such titles as Late Pickings (1987) and Penultimate Poems (1989). The Collected Ewart in 1980, a Further Collected Poems ten years later and 85 Poems (1993) show how immensely prolific, skilful and entertaining Gavin Ewart was. The National Library of Scotland has extensive holdings of Gavin Ewart s literary papers and correspondence. His relationship with the Library goes back to 1970 when we began to buy his literary papers and quickly became the repository of choice. [The biography is largely drawn from Anthony Thwaite s obituary of Gavin Ewart (Independent, 24 October 1995) and from Paul Vaughan s article in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, (Oxford University Press, 2004).] Bought, 2007 See also Acc.5035, Acc.7667, Acc.7815, Acc.8485, Acc.8628, Acc.8983, Acc.9064, Acc.9464, Acc.9643, Acc.9918, Acc.10527, Acc.10819, Acc.10877, Acc.10965, Acc.11093, Acc.11192, Acc.11226 and Acc.11326.
The collection is arranged as follows: 1-24 Papers relating to published collections 25-31 Other poems 32-40 Libretti and lyrics 41-62 Works edited or compiled by Gavin Ewart 63-68 Book reviews 69 Obituaries 70-73 Talks and broadcasts 74-80 Correspondence 81-108 General correspondence files 109 Press cuttings 110-113 Competitions 114 Genealogy 1-24 Papers relating to published collections 1 Londoners (London: London Magazine, 1964) Manuscript and carbon typescript. 2 Throwaway lines (London, Keepsake Press, [1964]). Carbon typescript, with a few manuscript corrections. 3 Pleasures of the flesh (London: A Ross, 1966) Galleys and proofs. 4 Two children (London: Keepsake Press, 1966) Some corrected proofs. 5 The Deceptive grin of the gravel porters (London: Ross, 1968) Typescript. 6 The Gavin Ewart Show (London Trigram Press 1971) Typescript and carbon typescript poems, corrected galleys. 7 Be my guest! (London: Trigram Press, 1975) Unbound gatherings, no cover. 8 Or where a young penguin lies screaming (London: Gollancz, 1977) Duplicates & possible additions ; file containing manuscript, typescript, carbon typescript and photocopied poems, with notes for a Guide to the book and relating to the internal organisation. 9 The Collected Ewart, 1933-1980 (London: Hutchinson, 1980) Correspondence, 1979-1980, and corrections. 10 The New Ewart : poems, 1980-1982 (London: Hutchinson, 1982) Corrected typescript.
11 The Ewart Quarto (London: Hutchinson, 1984) Two corrected proofs, jacket-design and artwork, related correspondence, 1983-1984, press-cuttings of the poems as published in Quarto. 12 The Learnèd Hippopotamus (London: Hutchinson, 1986) Photocopies of camera-ready copy, with cover proof. 13 Nine New Poems (Cleveland : Bits Press, c1986) Carbon typescript of poems with manuscript introductory pages. 14 Selected poems, 1933-1988 (New York: New Directions, [1988]) Correspondence with the publisher, 1987-1988; notes, related papers and uncollected poems. 15-16 Penultimate poems (London: Hutchinson, 1989) 15 Marked-up carbon typescript, with correspondence, 1989, relating to the book design. 16 Corrected proofs. 17-20 Like it or not (London: Bodley Head, 1992) 17 Manuscript, typescript and carbon typescript poems; photocopies of illustrations by Ronald Ferns and copies of book jacket for both hardback and paperback editions. 18 Correspondence, 1990-1992; some with poems enclosed. 19 Photocopy of paste-up. 20 Signed copy of the book. 21 Caterpillar stew a feast of animal poems (London: Hutchinson Children s, 1990) Manuscript, typescript, carbons and photocopied poems, with various order-lists (some under earlier titles) and related correspondence, 1988-1989. 22-23 85 poems (London: Hutchinson, 1993) 22 Corrected and marked-up typescript. 23 Corrected proofs; corrected galleys. 24 Selected poems, 1933-1993 (London: Hutchinson, 1996) Correspondence, 1993-1995, manuscript list of poems and two variant sets of proofs. 25-31 Other poems 25 Poems published File of manuscript, typescript and carbon typescript poems, some galleys and printed copy, c.1939-1993. Many with Ewart s corrections and his notes of publication details.
26 Poems about famous people A file of manuscript and typescript poems, 1948-1995, mainly with named individuals as subjects, with some press cuttings of published poems. 27 Haikus Manuscript and typescript haikus, c1981-1995. 28 Winning competitions Typescript, carbon typescript and published poems, c.1982-1993, submitted to competitions in various publications including the Times Literary Supplement, The Observer, The New Statesman, Honest Ulsterman, Poetry Review. 29 Not suitable for children (?possibly unpublished) Correspondence, 1992-1993, manuscript and typescript poems. 30 Limerick guide to literature. Undated Manuscript drafts and fair typescript and carbon typescript copies of limericks on literary subjects (?unpublished). 31 Limerick guide to music. Undated Manuscript drafts and fair typescript copies of limericks on musical subjects (?unpublished). 32-40 Libretti and lyrics 32 Manuscript and typescript lyrics and manuscript music, c.1955-1957, of a series of songs on which Gavin Ewart and composer David Bowen collaborated. 33-34 Tobermory (the cat that knew) An opera in one act, based on a short story by Saki (H H Munro), with words by Gavin Ewart and music by John Gardner; commissioned and performed by the Royal Academy of Music in 1977. 33 Typescript libretto 34 Copy music and libretto. 35-39 Boys and Girls Come Out To Play, opera buffa in 2 acts by Robin Holloway, libretto by Gavin Ewart. 35 Copy music draft with libretto Vocal score, Act I Vocal score, Act II Correspondence of Robin Holloway and Gavin Ewart, 1991. 36 Various typescript and some manuscript sections of libretto, mainly from Re-writes 3-7, with correspondence of Robin Holloway and Gavin Ewart, 1991-1995.
37 Manuscript libretto, Re-write 6. 38 Copied typescript draft libretto, dated 3/2/92, with some manuscript amendments. 39 Various typescript and some manuscript sections of libretto, mainly from Re-writes 1-9, with carbon copies of Gavin Ewart s letters to Robin Holloway, 1991-1995. 40 The Way We Live Now Corrected manuscript and carbon typescript of a libretto, 1977, by Gavin Ewart based on Trollope s novel. The composer was probably John Gardner, and the opera may have had a brief production run in late 1977. 41-62 Works edited or compiled by Gavin Ewart 41-46 Forty years on: an anthology of school songs compiled by Gavin Ewart (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1969) 41 File of songs; some extracted from published sources but mainly manuscript, typescript and carbon typescript copies, many bearing Gavin Ewart s notes, with some related correspondence. 42 Correspondence, 1968-1972 (many of the letters are replies to a circular which Gavin Ewart sent out to schools soliciting songs, or to an advertisement placed in The Listener). 43 Songs of Uppingham School... composed and arranged by The Music Masters of Uppingham School (London: Novello, c.1900). 44 Harrow School Songs (London: Harrow School Book Shop, 1954). Annotated. 45 List of Independent Schools in England and Wales (London: HMSO, 1968). Annotated. 46 Reviews. 47-48 New poems 1977-1978: a P.E.N. anthology of contemporary poetry edited by Gavin Ewart (London: Hutchison, 1977) 47 Letters, 1977, and brief biographies of poets whose work Gvain Ewart had selected for inclusion. 48 Corrected galleys. 49-50 The Batsford book of light verse for children edited by Gavin Ewart, Nicolas Bentley drew the pictures (London: Batsford 1978)
49 Correspondence, 1977; corrected typescript and some papers relating to the book s organisation and design. 50 Two variant sets of galley proofs. 51 The Penguin book of light verse edited with an introduction by Gavin Ewart (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1980) Carbon typescript and correspondence, 1979-1980. 52-53 The Complete clerihews of E.Clerihew Bentley illustrated by Nicolas Bentley... [et al.] with an introduction by Gavin Ewart. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981) 52 Manuscript and typescript drafts of the introduction; carbon typescript text with notes and amendments; correspondence, 1981; photocopy of Bentley s original manuscript collection, illustrated by G K Chesterton. 53 Spiral-bound proofs. 54 The First clerihews E. Clerihew Bentley with G.K. Chesterton... [et al.] illustrated by G.K. Chesterton (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982) Galleys, 1981. 55-61 Other people s clerihews chosen by Gavin Ewart with illustrations by Nicola Jennings (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1983) 55 Clerihews originals. Draft introduction; submissions for inclusion (from published sources, a competition in The Sunday Times, and submitted by post in response to an advertisement in the Times Literary Supplement). 56 Carbons of untraced and untraceable [clerihews], relating to attempts to obtain permission to publish. 57 Correspondence, 1981-1984, and manuscript and typescript drafts of the introduction (original file labelled under the earlier title Other Men s Clerihews ). 58 Carbon typescript with extensive manuscript notes, and various drafts of the introduction. 59 Corrected proofs. 60 Correspondence mainly with Henry Hardy of Oxford University Press, 1982-1983, and reviews. 61 Clerihews for consideration in any future edition. File, dated 1985, containing examples of clerihews and some correspondence.
62 Poetry Book Society s Christmas Poetry Supplement compiled by Gavin Ewart (London, The Society, 1984) Correspondence, mainly with contributors, 1984. 63-68 Book reviews Gavin Ewart was a prolific reviewer of the work of others, particularly poetry. He reviewed, at one time or another, for most of the Sunday broadsheets, as well as The Guardian and more specialised publications such as the Times Literary Supplement and the New York Review of Books. The files remain in the arrangement in which they arrived, hence the overlap of dates. 63 c.1960-1982. 64 c.1966-1992. 65 c.1966-1992. 66 c1970-1985. 67 c.1979-1991. 68 c.1980s. 69 Obituaries 69 Obituaries by Gavin Ewart, c1985-1995, manuscript, typescript and some press cuttings. Subjects include Stephen Spender, Roger Woddis, Geoffrey Grigson, Nigel Spivey and Julian Symons. 70-73 Talks and broadcasts 70 The Clerihews of E C Bentley by Gavin Ewart, 1981. Script, probably for radio. 71 Limericks Annotated script for a BBC radio programme on limericks, written and narrated by Gavin Ewart, broadcast in 1982; with related correspondence and limericks submitted by listeners and others. 72 City of London 800 th Anniversary Celebration; text for an 8 th centenary reading, selected by Gavin Ewart, with 4 poems written for the occasion. 73 Notes, undated, for a talk on Rudyard Kipling. 74-80 Correspondence 74 2 letters and 3 cards, November 1957, of John Gardner, composer.
75 Copy and draft letters, 1958-1994 and undated, of Gavin Ewart mainly to newspapers and periodicals. 76 Correspondence, 1981-1983, relating to PEN Broadsheet, with which publication Gavin Ewart was involved in an editorial capacity. Mainly letters from contributors, often with poems enclosed, and carbon copies of Ewart s replies. 77 Correspondence, 1985-1988, mainly with Robert Wallace of Bits Press, Cleveland, largely relating to The Gavin Ewart Show: Selected Poems 1939-1985, Nine New Poems and Gavin Ewart s Spring Tour of the US, 1987. 78 Copies of correspondence between Gavin Ewart and Lincoln Kirstein, 1986-1995. 79 Correspondence, 1988, and other papers relating to a proposed anthology of American light verse selected by Gavin Ewart, American Light (?unpublished). 80 Minutes, correspondence and other papers, 1992-1995, relating to the Royal Society of Literature, of which Gavin Ewart was a Council Member. 81-108 General correspondence files These chronological files are arranged roughly alphabetically by correspondent, often with carbon copies of Gavin Ewart s outgoing letters. 81-83 10 October 1986-31 May 1987 81 A-E 82 G-L 83 M-Z 84-86 1 June 1987-27 December 1987 84 A-C 85 D-M 86 N-Z 87-90 6 December 1991-12 September 1992 87 A-D 88 E-L 89 M-R 90 S-Z 91-94 12 September 1992-30 April 1993 91 A-C 92 D-L
93 M-P 94 R-Y 95-99 1 May-24 December 1993 95 A-C 96 D-J 97 K-O 98 P-R 99 S-Y 100-103 24 December 1993-21 September 1994 100 A-C 101 D-L 102 M-Q 103 R-W 104-107 September 1994-May 1995 104 A-C 105 D-H 106 I-Q 107 R-W 108 June 1995-22 October 1995 (one file) 109 Press cuttings 109 Press-cuttings, 1981-1996. 110-113 Competitions Files 110-112 relate to competitions for which Gavin Ewart was on the judging panel. 110 Speak a poem competition, 1984-1988 Correspondence, notes, minutes. 111 Epsom translations Entries for a poetry translation competition, 1985, probably organised in conjunction with the Surrey Literature Festival of the same year. 112 Ryman New Writers 1986 Awards Correspondence, poems submitted and Gavin Ewart s reports. 113 Copies of submissions to a clerihew competition organised by the Sydney Morning Herald,?1987.
114 Genealogy 114 Ewart family papers, c1890-1978, mainly relating to Gavin Ewart s grandfather, Professor James Cossar Ewart, FRS (1851-1933). Includes letters, manuscripts and published papers by Professor Ewart, who held the Chair of Natural History at Edinburgh from 1882-1927, and some photocopies including an obituary from The University of Edinburgh Journal, 1933-1934. With some photocopied letters and papers relating to Gavin Ewart s father, George A Ewart (1886 1942), and letters relating to Gavin Ewart s maternal family, the Turners.