DL/A-Z//CUR - [Correspondence with Curtis Brown]

DL/A-Z//CUR

File

[Correspondence with Curtis Brown]

1970, 1983

4 Letters (typescript and MS)
2 Article

Curtis Brown
Lessing, Doris May, 1919-2013

6 items, some highlighted. Includes two letters from Aileen Vincent-Barwood to her agent that was forwarded to Lessing. Discusses Aileen Vincent-Barwood's story 'Silent Passage' and the similarities to Lessing's 'Through the Tunnel'. Includes a copy of Vincent-Barwood 'Silent Passage' that was sent to Lessing by Curtis Brown with a note attached saying "here it is - ugh" (item 004). Includes a 1983 letter from Lessing, discussing transferring from Curtis Brown to Jonathan Clowes (item 006).

DL/A-Z//CUR/001 [from Aileen Vincent-Barwood to her agent, Roberta Pryor, 23/07/1970]

Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Alludes to being recently accused of plagiarising Lessing's 'Through the Tunnel', "all this has been very depressing and worrying". Writes that she "feels guilty". Implies that she has "nothing to hide" by using an analogy of going through airport customs and feeling guilty despite not having done anything wrong. Writes "screw all writing, all ambition, success and money if this is the price one must pay".

DL/A-Z//CUR/002 [from Aileen Vincent-Barwood to Roberta Pryor and Mrs Stuart, 23/07/1970]

Letter, 2 leaves, typed.
Defends her story 'Silent Passage'. Writes that she was influenced by Lessing's 'Through the Tunnel' but that it was an "unconscious and unplanned similarity". Writes that she had originally submitted her story entitled 'Tunnel' before changing it. Details her own experiences as inspiration for her story. Writes that she cannot apologise for something that she did unintentionally.

DL/A-Z//CUR/003 [from Aileen Vincent-Barwood to Doris Lessing, 31/08/1970]

Letter, 2 leaves recto and verso, handwritten.
Writes that this has been a "shattering experience" for her. Details her own experiences and how they related to her story. Finishes the letter by writing "please accept my sincere admiration for your work - and my apology".

DL/A-Z//CUR/006 [from Doris Lessing to Curtis Brown, 03/06/1983]

Letter, 2 leaves, typed.
Writes that she has heard they are asking for a sum of £50,000 from Jonathan Clowes as "the price for letting me go". Mentions that Jonathan Clowes has been her agent for three years. Discusses an "appalling mistake" in their publication of The Golden Notebook in Japan. Asks them to reconsider and propose "something more reasonable".