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The collection consists primarily of letters by De la Mare to Olive C. Jones, his secretary during the 1930s and, later, editor of Methuen's children's books. Included are 192 autograph and typed letters, notes, and postcards. The earliest letter in the collection is actually from Colin de la Mare, written on 5 Oct.1927, on his father's behalf, giving Ms. Jones the train schedule for her first visit to Taplow to meet De la Mare on 8 October 1927. De la Mare's first letter (13 Oct. 1927) is a request that Jones begin work on Monday the 31st. The subsequent letters concern all manner of personal and professional matters including De la Mare's work, answering correspondence, local and family news, his own and Jones's health, research projects, travel plans, Jones's editorial advice, her contribution to the production of anthologies De la Mare was compiling, mutual friends, the Second World War, book reviews, old age, books De la Mare is reading, his ideas on writing, and many other subjects.
Also present are a few letters relating to De la Mare written by other correspondents, including R. N. Green-Armytage, Elfrida de la Mare, and E. N. Saxton (signed "N"), a qualified nurse who helped bring De la Mare back to health after a stroke in the late 1940s and subsequently became his friend and companion during the last years of his life; a TLS from Olive Jones to De La Mare; two "Book Token" Christmas cards inscribed by the poet; a copy of the Order of Service for "The Burial of Walter De la Mare O.M., C.H., 1873-1956" held at St. Paul's Cathedral, 28 June 1956; and "Alas," an autograph poem by De la Mare, 10 lines, n.d.
The letters are arranged chronologically by year.
The collection is open for research.
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under
Purchased from David J. Holmes in 2002 (AM2002-133).
No appraisal information is available.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Walter de la Mare Letters to Olive C. Jones, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.
Walter De la Mare was a British novelist and poet.
Walter De la Mare was a British novelist and poet.