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Esmé & Barbara Wingfield-Stratford, 1914 - 1932

 File — Multiple Containers

Scope and Contents

A collection mainly of annotated typescripts of a number of works, several apparently unpublished, including poems, books, and other materials from the papers of English historian and writer Esmé Wingfield-Stratford and his wife Barbara. The contents are as follows: 1. “Morituri” (1914), 9 loose pages. 2. “The Universal Gospel” (1918), a critique of modern society, bound in a brown paper cover. 3. Two copies of “The Return of King Arthur” by Esmé Wingfield-Stratford and Herbert G. de Hamel, written in a prologue and four parts, each bound individually in brown paper with red ribbon. The second copy is missing part IV. 4. “Songs of England’s Awakening” bound in blue paper. 5. Two copies of “The Pilgrimage of Orpheus” in 29 chapters. Each copy is bound in four parts in heavy brown paper. 6. “The Squire and his Relations” in three books, each wrapped in red paper. 7. “King Charles”, a screenplay by Esmé Wingfield-Stratford and Holloway Horn, bound in stiffened paper. 8. “The Amazing Epilogue”, a novel by Barbara Wingfield-Stratford bound in stiffened paper. 9. “The Second Chance”, a novel in three parts by Barbara Wingfield-Stratford, each bound in heavy brown paper. 10. Two copies of an untitled work by both the Wingfield-Stratfords: it centers around 15 poems supposedly dictated to them by dead poets, some well-known (including Swinburne and Meredith) and some obscure. The poems are accompanied by a lengthy preface explaining their process and anticipating critiques from non-believers. The typescript concludes with 15 poems by the Wingfield-Stratfords themselves, proposed as “proof” that they are not the authors of the “transmitted” works. 11. A folio sized clothbound notebook with more than 200 poems and sketches – many of which either lampoon contemporary English culture or valorize Indian culture and history. 12. Bound note paper containing pen notes and drafts of an unknown work. Finally, there are a number of news clippings containing reviews of Esmé Wingfield-Stratford’s published works. Several of the works were composed while the Wingfield-Stratfords were resident in Muttra (modern-day Mathura), India or show the heavy influence of Indian culture and spiritualism on the couple.

Dates

  • 1914 - 1932

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

Esmé Wingfield-Stratford (1882 -1971) was an English historian and author. He served in the military in India, an experience that would have a profound impact on his life and writing. Wingfield-Stratford published more than 40 books of history, fiction, and poetry, most notably The History of British Civilization (2 vols., 1928). Barbara Wingfield-Stratford (1892-1976) was a British writer and novelist.

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)