Harry Ransom CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

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Sybille Bedford, 1911-2006
Addition to Her Papers, 1911-2006 (Bulk, 1970s-2006)
Preliminary Inventory

4 boxes (1.68 linear feet)

Note: This brief collection description is an accession record. The collection is not fully processed or cataloged; no biographical sketch, descriptions of series, or indexes are available.
Acquisition:Purchase, 2007 (Reg. no. 16496)
Access: Open for research
Processed by: Liz Murray and Hope Rider, 2007
RLIN Record ID: None

Table of Contents

Scope and Contents
Folder List

Scope and Contents

This addition to the papers of author Sybille Bedford contains materials that were in Bedford's possession at the time of her death in 2006. The papers are arranged in three series: I. Works, 1978-2005; II. Correspondence, 1979-2006; III. Personal and Career-Related, 1911-2006.

Series I. contains several drafts of articles, a small amount of material relating to the publication of Bedford's final book, Quicksands: A Memoir, and a eulogy for Amalia Elguera.

The correspondence in Series II. includes letters from Bedford's publishers and agents, as well as friends and acquaintances such as Bill and Chloe Blackburn, John Byrne, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Francis Henry King, Richard and Mary Ollard, and Ann Patchett. There are also two postcards from Bedford's close friend Allanah Harper.

The bulk of Series III. is comprised of the extensive wine books kept by Bedford and containing notes regarding wine tastings and purchases. Career-related materials consist of royalty statements, contracts, and reviews for various Bedford works. One file includes Bedford's birth certificate, marriage certificate providing Bedford with English citizenship in 1935, and correspondence from Prime Minister Thatcher's office regarding the OBE awarded in 1981.

Folder List

Box	Folder	Description

Series I. Works, 1978-2005

1	1	ALDOUS HUXLEY: A BIOGRAPHY, photocopy of
				partial text, French translation by Aliette Martin
	2	Eulogy for Amalia Elguera, 1996
	3	GOOD FOOD GUIDE, SB's reviews of three London
				restaurants, carbon typescripts, 1984
	4	QUICKSANDS: A MEMOIR, production materials
				and publisher correspondence; A LEGACY
				reissue, book jacket proofs, 2004-2005
	5	"La vie de Chateaux," for HARPER'S, ca. 1978

Series II. Correspondence, 1979-2006

	6	A-B
	7	C-G
	8	Day, Audri
	9	Desert Island Discs, 1998
	10	H-I
	11	J-M
	12	N-Ra

2	1-3	Publishers, agents, other projects
	4	Re-Ru
	5	S-Y
	6	Social Democratic Party and Committee for the Free World
	7	Unidentified

Series III. Personal and Career-Related, 1911-2006

	8	Birth and marriage certificates; Prime Minister's
				correspondence re OBE and monetary grant;
				Royal Society of Literature re Companion of
				Literature award
	9	Contracts, various works
	10	Cookbook, compiled by SB, typescript
	11	Lists: travel and domestic

3	1	Menus and wine lists, record of entertaining, 1977-1987, 1999
	2	Olney, Richard, celebration menu, photographs by Susan Raven
		Reviews
	3		QUICKSANDS: A MEMOIR
	4		Various works
	5	Royalty statements and Public Lending Rights, 1994-2000
	6-7	Wine books, 1960s-1980s

4	1	"Wine book, January 1983-," includes wine labels,
				tasting notes, and articles
	2	Wine tasting lists, notes
	3	Wine tasting souvenirs

Sybille Bedford Addition to Her Papers Preliminary Inventory
(Last modified: 1 May 2007 )

Reference queries to: reference@hrc.utexas.edu

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