Scope and Contents
Correspondence is primarily between Gardner and Susan Hirschman of MacMillan Publishing (1971-1978). Included amongst the letters are notes, sources, and copies of illustrations for A Collection of Fools.
There are numerous reviews of Red Shift; some reviewers argue whether the book is aimed, or should be aimed, at children.
The collection also contains a "datapack biography," edited by (his wife) Griselda Greaves, that contains photocopied documents, writings, and photographs. The datapack includes an autobiographical sketch, handwritten letters, poetry, photocopied photographs and prints of Gardner and his house. Also filed with the datapack are copies of article or book pages about traditions and customs of Cheshire, England.
Dates
- 1971-1978
Creator
- Greaves, Griselda (Person)
- Garner, Alan, 1934- (Person)
- Hirschman, Susan (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Alan Garner was born October 7, 1934, in the county of Cheshire, England. He became a celebrated writer of fantasy stories, most of which are set in Cheshire, and explore the myths, traditions, and dialect of that area. Although he is often categorized as a "children's author," Garner does not endorse that label. He explains that while his books mostly feature children as the main protagonists, and that "readers under the age of eighteen read what [he writes] with more passion, understanding, and clarity of perception than do adults," ultimately, he writes for himself.
Novels by Gardner include: The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (1960), The Moon of Gomrath (1963), Red Shift (1973), Thursbitch (2003), and Boneland (2012).
[Source: Interview with Alan Garner by Raymond H. Thompson. April 12, 1989. website: http://www.lib.rochester.edu/]
Extent
0.25 linear feet (3 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Alan Garner (1934 -) is a celebrated writer of fantasy stories that feature children as the main protagonists, and that explore the myths, traditions, and dialect of Cheshire, England. The collection (1971-1978) contains correspondence with publishers, a biographical packet, and reviews mostly concerning the book Red Shift.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was sent to Special Collections by Susan Hirschman in 1984, on behalf of Greenwillow Books. A letter sent with the file of Gardner material explains that this collection is not a part of the Greenwillow archive (which is also housed at Special Collections) because the file is primarily about Gardner's book, Red Shift, which was published by MacMillan.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Tanya Parlet, 2013.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
This collection received a basic level of processing including minimal organization and rehousing.
Description information is drawn in part from information supplied with the collection and initial surveys of the contents.
- Arts and Humanities Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Authors and publishers -- Correspondence Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Authors, English -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cheshire (England) -- Fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cheshire (England) -- Social life and customs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, English -- Authorship Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Fantasy fiction, English -- Authorship Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Garner, Alan, 1934-
- Hirschman, Susan
- Macmillan Publishing Company
- Photocopies Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Science fiction Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Science fiction, English -- Authorship Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young adult literature, English -- Authorship Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Alan Garner papers
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- Tanya Parlet.
- Date
- 2013
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English
- Sponsor
- Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
