1Cynfelyn
"'It could disappear for ever': Anger over sale of George Orwell archive
"George Orwell's archives provide an invaluable insight into one of the most influential British writers of the 20th century, casting light on how he produced his most memorable books, his sensitivity to criticism, and his fears that legal threats could ruin his work. Now the treasure trove that is the extensive archive of correspondence and contracts amassed by Orwell's original publisher, Victor Gollancz, could be scattered to the winds in what has been described as an act of 'cultural vandalism'. ..." (Guardian, 2024-08-17).
The article mentions the disposal also "included correspondence with Kingsley Amis and Daphne du Maurier, among other Gollancz authors".
As a retired archivist it sounds like a familiar story. Management, having allowed the old filing system to gather dust in a locked room (or in this case, warehouse) for decades, without knowing or caring about its contents or intellectual or financial worth, turns around one day and says it needs the room cleared by the end of next week at the latest, no excuses.
How on earth has Gollancz, or Orion its parent company, not got a permanent archive that should have been collecting such material as it became non-current, or at least acted as a back-stop when management says "bin it all"?
"George Orwell's archives provide an invaluable insight into one of the most influential British writers of the 20th century, casting light on how he produced his most memorable books, his sensitivity to criticism, and his fears that legal threats could ruin his work. Now the treasure trove that is the extensive archive of correspondence and contracts amassed by Orwell's original publisher, Victor Gollancz, could be scattered to the winds in what has been described as an act of 'cultural vandalism'. ..." (Guardian, 2024-08-17).
The article mentions the disposal also "included correspondence with Kingsley Amis and Daphne du Maurier, among other Gollancz authors".
As a retired archivist it sounds like a familiar story. Management, having allowed the old filing system to gather dust in a locked room (or in this case, warehouse) for decades, without knowing or caring about its contents or intellectual or financial worth, turns around one day and says it needs the room cleared by the end of next week at the latest, no excuses.
How on earth has Gollancz, or Orion its parent company, not got a permanent archive that should have been collecting such material as it became non-current, or at least acted as a back-stop when management says "bin it all"?
