Correspondence, papers, photographs of William Charles Chapman-Mortimer, which include letters to his wife, illustrated stories and poems
Scope and Contents
The collection is composed of letters between Mortimer and his first wife Frances, dating from 1940 to 1945. These are often illustrated with pen and ink illustrations. Among the letters from Mortimer are a few manuscript poems and stories including a hand-sewn typescript booklet, The Poet and the Hippopotamus. And Other Works. There are also letters to R. M. Rice, 1960s.
There are 4 x bound manuscripts, news-clippings extracted from an accompanying volume A stranger on the shore, from the bound ms "The Runner", and from a 'spring-back' binder, and also 2 x gelatin silver print photographs of William Charles Chapman-Mortimer.
The bound manuscripts are:
- "Mediterraneo", Chapter 1, pp35., Christmas 1953
- "The Runner", pp73., Barcelona 1952,
- Dream-like illustrated story [incomplete] about Sir John Owl and his squire Bluey and their drunken imaginary adventures. Sir John Owl is a companion or perhaps alias of Mortimer in his wartime letters.
- Volume with three illustrated poems, each about an exotic animal, the Slow Loris, the Okapi, and the Flying Phalanger.
The letters are, 14 x folders of correspondence, covering:
Also in the collection are a few manuscript poems and stories including a hand-sewn typescript booklet, The Poet and the Hippopotamus. And Other Works, and A work in progress. A famous tale not by James Joyce. There is also a hand-illustrated cover for John Owl and his Bluey squire.
The news-clippings are dated and undated reviews of Chapman Mortimer works:
- Time and Tide, 25 March 1950, pp.297-298 - Review of 'A stranger on the stair', by Gerard Hopkins
- Sunday Times, 26 March 1950, Review of 'A stranger on the stair', by Desmond MacCarthy
- Observer, 9 April 1950, Review of 'A stranger on the stair', by Francis Wyndham
- Jeruslaem Post, 21 June 1950, p.7, Review of 'A stranger on the stair', by Olivia Manning
- Herald Tribune, 15 October 1950, Review of 'A stranger on the stair', by Thomas Sugrue
- The Listener, 27 November 1952, p.905, Review of 'Young men waiting', by Stephen Spender
- Sunday Times, [undated], Review of 'Young men waiting', by J. W. Lambert
- Times Literary Supplement, [undated], Review of 'A stranger on the stair'
- [Untitled], [undated], Article on Afghanistan, by Neil McLean, MP
Additionally, there is a folder of copies of letters 1940s to Mrs Chapman Mortimer, postcards to Mrs Chapman Mortimer, and a telegram 1947.
There is an empty 'spring-clip' folder which contained 1960s R. M. Rice correspondence and an undated review clipping.
Material added subsequently, acquired in May 2018 (ref. SC-Acc-2018-0090): Sketchbooks, and typescripts of William Chapman-Mortimer, and one printed booklet. Typescripts are entitled 'In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I forget...' (unbound), and 'Narayan and the Little White Gopi'. Two sketchbook, one of which is empty (only inscription: 'Captain W. C. Chapman-Mortimer - 90 Grindlay's Bank, Bombay, India), and pages have been cut off; and the other one has only a few drawings. The printed booklet is entitled 'The Lures'.
Dates
- Creation: 1940-1945
Creator
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Reader swill be required be sign a Data Protection form to consult some of the material. Please contact the repository in advance.
Extent
2 boxes
2 boxes
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Bulk of the archive purchased in November 2016 (accession no SC-Acc-2016-0170). Additional material purchased in May 2018 (accession no SC-Ac-c-2018-0090).
- Title
- Correspondence, papers, photographs of William Charles Chapman-Mortimer, which include letters to his wife, illustrated stories and poems
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk