William Plomer, 1947 - 1972
Scope and Contents
10 pieces of correspondence written to Jane Boulenger by South African-British novelist William Plomer between 1947 and 1972. Also included are two letters to Boulenger about Plomer, the pamphlet from his funeral service in 1973, and several newspaper clippings.
Dates
- 1947 - 1972
Conditions Governing Access
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Biographical / Historical
William Plomer (December 10, 1903 - September 21, 1972) was a South African and British novelist, poet and librettist. His first novel, Turbott Wolfe (1925), was published to great scandal in his native South Africa as it depicted an interracial love story, and Plomer continued to write about marginalized groups throughout his career, including gay men, a group to which he belonged. Plomer entered the literary circles of Great Britain in 1929, due largely to his friendship with Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard, and it was the Woolfs who published Plomer’s first English works. Eventually, Plomer became an editor for Faber and Faber, where he worked on Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale; Goldfinger is dedicated to him. Plomer was also active as a librettist and worked regularly with Benjamin Britten.
Extent
From the Collection: 30 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
From the Collection: French
From the Collection: Italian
From the Collection: Welsh
From the Collection: Danish
From the Collection: Swedish
From the Collection: Spanish
From the Collection: German
From the Collection: Norwegian
From the Collection: Persian
From the Collection: Japanese
From the Collection: Russian
From the Collection: Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Creator
- From the Collection: Scheetz, Nicholas B., 1952-2016 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu