News
Friday 4 July 2008
Laura (Riding) Jackson letters donated to university archive
Widely regarded as one of the most influential authors and poets of the 20th Century, Laura (Riding) Jackson has also been described as one of the last great letter writers of her time. Now, almost 17 years after her death, a unique collection of letters representing 20 years of correspondence between her and a Nottingham Trent University research fellow, is to be placed in the university’s research archives.
Author of some 50 books of poetry, criticisms and stories, Laura (Riding) Jackson was perhaps most well-known for her collaborations and close relationship with fellow author Robert Graves - a man with whom she spent much of her time during her thirteen years in Europe away from the USA. The closeness of their relationship caused something of a scandal in literary circles at the time, leading to a failed suicide attempt by Laura in 1929 and the eventual divorce of Graves from his wife. The pair returned to the USA in 1939 choosing to part company later that same year.
Thirty one years on and Dr Mark Jacobs – now a research fellow of Nottingham Trent University’s School of Arts and Humanities - received his first letter from Laura when he began a PhD on her work under the notable poet and critic G. S. Fraser. She greeted his enquiry kindly: ‘You ask both too much, and too little,’ she wrote. How much becomes clear in her letters.
For 20 years, Mark and Laura stayed in touch via air-mail - a pen-pal relationship that saw Laura send no less than 700 hand written and typed letters to Mark, some ten or 12 pages in length. He received his last letter in 1990 before Laura passed away in 1991.
Having saved each letter, complete with its envelope, Mark has now decided to contribute the collection and other rare documents, drafts and books to the university, where they will serve as a record and insight into the mind of an iconic figure of 20th Century literature.
Describing the collection, Mark said: “It offers an unparalleled view of her work and thinking. There is, for example, an account of her suicide attempt as well as acerbic comments on writers that she worked with, especially Robert Graves. The letters are variously witty, funny, warm, candid, harsh and sometimes outright condemnatory.”
Speaking about his decision to submit the collection to the archive, he added: “I was very lucky to have received so many letters from Laura during the twenty years that we were in touch. I’m delighted to be placing them into the care of the Nottingham Trent University, where I hope others will be able to learn more about this incredible woman.”
Accompanied by other collections of scholars’ texts and literary artefacts, the Laura (Riding) Jackson archive is accessible for research purposes by contacting Mark Jacobs directly.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
Mark Jacobs can be contacted via email mark.jacobs@ntu.ac.uk.
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