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Laurence Pollinger Ltd. Files Concerning D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence (1885-1930) was an English novelist, poet, storywriter, playwright, and essayist.
The collection consists of typed manuscripts of the first and second editions of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover, correspondence between Laurence Pollinger Ltd. and the major players involved in the contentious publication of the first unexpurgated American edition of the novel, fourteen contracts regarding English and foreign language versions, and newspaper clippings documenting the obscenity trial against Lady Chatterley's Lover in England. Laurence Pollinger Ltd. served as the executor of Lawrence's literary estate and maintained the copyrights for his writings beginning in the 1950s, represented his widow Frieda, and later served as her literary executor. The correspondence is the most interesting portion of the collection, as it illustrates in detail the numerous controversies over the publication of Lady Chatterley's Lover, including censorship over the novel's alleged obscenity.
The following standard abbreviation, or its variation, is used to identify materials in this collection: TMs = typed manuscript
Purchased in 2003 with funds from the Richard M. Ludwig Endowment donated by Michael Spence.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Karla J. Vecchia in 2004. Finding aid written by Karla J. Vecchia in 2004.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Karla J. Vecchia
- Finding Aid Date
- 2004
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Collection Inventory
(Sotheby's English Literature, History, Fine Bindings, Private Press Books, Children's Books, Illustrated Books and Drawings [catalog]. [London: 2003], 133).
Arranged by edition.
Physical Description2 boxes
(Sotheby's, 133)
Physical Description1 folder
(Sotheby's, 134).
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This series primarily consists of correspondence between Laurence Pollinger Ltd. and the major players involved in the contentious publication of the first unexpurgated American edition of Lady Chatterley's Lover, including Lawrence's widow Frieda, her third husband Angelo Ravagli, and various publishers. Also included is a letter by Aldous Huxley in which he suggests that the American Writer's Guild unite with the English Society of Authors to "officially stigmatize Grove" for issuing "a book against the wishes of the author's legal representative, and without entering into a preliminary contract." This series is organized alphabetically by correspondent and then chronologically by date, with miscellaneous material located at the end.
The letter counts include copies of letters, not just originals. All newspaper clippings included with the correspondence have been preservation photocopied.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(also includes notes and clippings)
Physical Description1 folder
(also includes notes)
Physical Description1 folder
(also includes copy of the opinions of The Supreme Court of Canada regarding the obscenity charge against Lady Chatterley's Lover, [1962])
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
(also includes copy of complaint by New American Library of World Literature, Inc. against Grove Press, Inc., Dell Publishing Company, Inc., and Dell Distributing, Inc. in The Supreme Court of the State of New York County of New York, 1959)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This series consists of fourteen contracts regarding English and foreign language versions of Lady Chatterley's Lover (1931-1959). Some of the contracts include copies of related correspondence. This series is organized chronologically by date, with an undated contract located at the beginning.
Several of the contracts include associated correspondence or other materials.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This series consists entirely of newspaper clippings documenting the obscenity trial against Lady Chatterley's Lover in England (1960). This series is organized chronologically by date.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder