DL/A-Z//GEE - [Correspondence with Maggie Gee]
Reference code
DL/A-Z//GEE
Level of description
File
Title
[Correspondence with Maggie Gee]
Date/s
1998-2000
Quantity & Format
5 Letters (typescript and MS)
1 Greetings cards
1 Greetings cards
Corporate name
Richard Cohen Books
Personal name
Godwin, David
Creator
Gee, MaggieCreator
Lessing, Doris May, 1919-2013
Scope and content
5 items, highlighted. Correspondence between Doris Lessing and author Maggie Gee. Includes correspondence from Richard Cohen Books regarding Maggie Gee's novel The Ice People, asking if Lessing would read it.
DL/A-Z//GEE/001 [from Richard Cohen of Richard Cohen Books to Doris Lessing, 06/04/1998]
Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Writes that he is shortly to publish Maggie Gee's novel The Ice People and offers to send Lessing a copy to read. Attached is a new title information sheet regarding The Ice People, including a synopsis.
DL/A-Z//GEE/002 [from David Godwin to Doris Lessing, 29/09/2000]
Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Asks whether Lessing will read Gee's as-yet unpublished novel The White Family.
DL/A-Z//GEE/003 [from Maggie Gee to Doris Lessing, undated]
Letter, 1 leaf, handwritten.
Written after Godwin sent Lessing a copy of "The White People" [sic]. She writes about her novel, which concerns racism in England, and describes the problems she has had getting it published. She asks for feedback, positive or negative.
DL/A-Z//GEE/004 [from Doris Lessing to Maggie Gee, 17/11/2000]
Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Lessing bluntly states that she did not like the book much, and that Godwin likely tried to hide her reaction from Gee. She states that the book's problem is not in the theme of racism, and cites Zadie Smith's White Teeth to argue that racism is quite "popular" as a theme. Instead, she recommends pruning the book to save it from repetition and "prolixity". She recommends Aldous Huxley's Point Counter Point. "Well, I don't know. I am sorry. I feel bad."
DL/A-Z//GEE/005 [from Maggie Gee to Doris Lessing, 21/11/2000]
Letter, 1 leaf, handwritten.
Gee effusively thanks Lessing for her honesty. She says she is considering rewriting The White Family on the basis of her advice and reading Point Counter Point. She states that she did not mean to imply that publishers were racist, but that racism was an unattractive theme for readers. She refutes Lessing's claim that racism is a "fashionable" subject, and describes White Teeth as "post-racist". She writes about life in north-west London. Mentions Lessing's Ben, in the World.
DL/A-Z//GEE/006 [from Maggie Gee to Doris Lessing, undated.
Greetings card, 1 leaf, handwritten.
Gee praises Lessing's book The Grandmothers and analyses the stories in some detail.
DL/A-Z//GEE/001 [from Richard Cohen of Richard Cohen Books to Doris Lessing, 06/04/1998]
Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Writes that he is shortly to publish Maggie Gee's novel The Ice People and offers to send Lessing a copy to read. Attached is a new title information sheet regarding The Ice People, including a synopsis.
DL/A-Z//GEE/002 [from David Godwin to Doris Lessing, 29/09/2000]
Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Asks whether Lessing will read Gee's as-yet unpublished novel The White Family.
DL/A-Z//GEE/003 [from Maggie Gee to Doris Lessing, undated]
Letter, 1 leaf, handwritten.
Written after Godwin sent Lessing a copy of "The White People" [sic]. She writes about her novel, which concerns racism in England, and describes the problems she has had getting it published. She asks for feedback, positive or negative.
DL/A-Z//GEE/004 [from Doris Lessing to Maggie Gee, 17/11/2000]
Letter, 1 leaf, typed.
Lessing bluntly states that she did not like the book much, and that Godwin likely tried to hide her reaction from Gee. She states that the book's problem is not in the theme of racism, and cites Zadie Smith's White Teeth to argue that racism is quite "popular" as a theme. Instead, she recommends pruning the book to save it from repetition and "prolixity". She recommends Aldous Huxley's Point Counter Point. "Well, I don't know. I am sorry. I feel bad."
DL/A-Z//GEE/005 [from Maggie Gee to Doris Lessing, 21/11/2000]
Letter, 1 leaf, handwritten.
Gee effusively thanks Lessing for her honesty. She says she is considering rewriting The White Family on the basis of her advice and reading Point Counter Point. She states that she did not mean to imply that publishers were racist, but that racism was an unattractive theme for readers. She refutes Lessing's claim that racism is a "fashionable" subject, and describes White Teeth as "post-racist". She writes about life in north-west London. Mentions Lessing's Ben, in the World.
DL/A-Z//GEE/006 [from Maggie Gee to Doris Lessing, undated.
Greetings card, 1 leaf, handwritten.
Gee praises Lessing's book The Grandmothers and analyses the stories in some detail.
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DL - Doris Lessing Archive
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DL/2008 - Doris Lessing Archive 2008 deposit
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DL/A-Z - [A-Z Correspondence of Doris Lessing]
- DL/A-Z//GEE - [Correspondence with Maggie Gee]
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DL/A-Z - [A-Z Correspondence of Doris Lessing]
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DL/2008 - Doris Lessing Archive 2008 deposit