File AC1/4/1 - Notebooks

Eleven notebooks, [1970s-1980s], containing material mostly relating to the proposed publication of John Cowper Powys's letters and diaries. Nine of the notebooks are in Francis Llewellyn Powys's hand, one (ff. 1-12) bearing the title 'My Dearest Sea-Eagle. Selected Letters from J.C.P. to His sister Katie. NOTES', the rest containing draft letters relating to proposed publication (many addressed to representatives of Laurence Pollinger Ltd, literary agents, London), a draft of The Quiet Man of Dorset (ff. 258-260) (Francis's portrait of his father Theodore Francis Powys) and a draft of an unnamed work by Francis Llewellyn Powys (ff. 260 verso-290, about half of which is inverted text), and rough arithmetical calculations (presumably related to publishing costs). Many of the notebooks contain rough sketches and drawings, mainly depicting female figures, and some leaves bear evidence of watercolour paint mixing. A photographic negative depicting a crowd of people at the seaside which was originally loose inside one of the notebooks is now inserted at f. 156. Two of the eleven notebooks, containing indexes to the proposed publications, are possibly in the hand of Sally Powys, wife of Francis Llewellyn Powys.