Raymond Chandler to Natasha and Stephen Spender

Title

Raymond Chandler to Natasha and Stephen Spender

Shelfmark

MS. 6647/34

Summary

(Fols. 1-23) Chandler letters to Natasha Spender, 21 Jun 1957–4 Mar 1959

(Fols. 24-58) Chandler verse and prose, 1955-1957, n.d.

Includes:

i. (fol. 4) Chandler poem 'To a Lost Love' ("The sea is pounding like the heart / Of some disastrous and defeated king"), signed 'Ray', with a note in his hand: 'I don't give a damn [sic] the rhyme scheme'; enclosed 25 Jun 1957

ii. (fol. 7) Chandler poem 'To a Lost Love', the same poem as above but with a few textual variants, enclosed 23 Jul 1957 and dated the same

iii. (fols. 21-23) 'Ray's last lett[ers?]' (fol. 21) an envelope marked thus. It originally contained the torn fragments (one fragment missing) of a letter dated 4 Mar 1959. (fols. 22-23a) a handwritten transcript (in Natasha Spender's hand?) of the letter, headed 'Copy of Rays [sic] Letter' (fol. 23b) the fragments of the letter, reassembled and conserved, Oct 2015

iv. (fols. 24-58) poems and prose (originally sent to Natasha Spender by Chandler but not found enclosed in letters), comprising: (fol. 24) Chandler poem 'Improvisation on an Ancient Theme', 28 May 1955 (fol. 25) Chandler poem 'Untitled Poem' ("There is a moment after death"), 16 January 1955 (fol. 26) stanzas by Terence Tiller excerpted from 'Hands' – "Of seven kisses that have speech" (fol. 27) poem by Terence Tiller, 'Perfumes'

Prose (fols. 28-58):

(fols. 28-36) 'R.C.'s Pornographic Portraits of London: Chapter 4. And Now Goodbye', 5 June 1955, comprising three typescripts: (fols. 28-30) a top copy with a single handwritten amendment; (fols. 31-33) a top copy with the amendment incorporated; (fols. 34-36) a carbon copy of fols. 31-33

(fols. 37-58) 'A Routine to Shock the Neighbours' (fols. 37-43) 'Chapter One. How to Ruin Doctor' [sic], comprising (fols. 37-40) a top copy; (fols. 41-43) a carbon, with same text as fols. 37-40 but missing the last page and not made from this copy (fols. 44-49) 'Part Two[.] On First Being Met By a Duke', a lightly amended top copy, signed 'R.C.' (fols. 50-54) 'Chapter Three[.] Do You Mind Terribly Being Seduced', a lightly amended carbon, 20 May 1955 (fols. 55-58) 'Chapter 5. Faster, Slower, Neither.' An amended carbon, carbon-signed 'RC'

Date

1955-1957, 21 Jun 1957–4 Mar 1959, n.d.

Language

English

Physical extent

1 box