DL/A-Z//AUSTIN/2 - [Correspondence with David Austin 1996-1997: writing the first draft]

DL/A-Z//AUSTIN/2

Sub-file

[Correspondence with David Austin 1996-1997: writing the first draft]

08/04/1996-24/10/1997

3 Letters (typescript and MS)
2 Greetings cards
5 Postcards

Austin, David

007 is a letter from David Austin to Doris Lessing. He mentions farming, the natural world and the process of writing. "In two months I have only completed about twenty five pages! I'm pleased with the discipline but disappointed at the speed. Is it normal to be so slow? It's like squeezing some glutinous substance through a fine strainer."

008 is a postcard from Austin to Lessing, arranging a meeting in London. Mentions progress of his manuscript.

009 is a postcard from Austin to Lessing, thanking her for meeting him.

010 is an undated postcard from Austin to Lessing. Discusses Lessing's injury and the writing process. "I wrote a little over Christmas holiday but it came out so stiff and sort of Latinate and ill-fitting. I had to scrub it – but we're out of the mud now."

011 is an undated postcard from Austin to Lessing, mentioning a visit to her house. He asks for "a title on Sufism, something straighforward & easy to understand".

012 is an undated postcard from Austin to Lessing, thanking her for a package of books and a manuscript. Mentions farming.

013 is a greetings card from Austin to Lessing. He mentions farming, focusing on a contract dispute in which he is embroiled. He mentions progress on the manuscript and the writing process. Mentions The Grass is Singing.

014 is a greetings card from Austin to Lessing. He mentions being laid out by an old back injury, completing 43,000 words of his manuscript, and losing a large sum of money in the farming contract dispute [see 013]. Mentions thoughts of a new novel.

015 is a letter from Austin to Lessing. He focuses on his back injury, mentions hoping to finish his manuscript soon ("in about six weeks"). Mentions the contract dispute that he lost and restructuring his farm.

016 is a letter from Austin to Lessing. He tells her he wants to meet, to show her his completed manuscript. Mentions restructuring his farm and the weather.