DL/A-Z//HARPER C/4 - [Correspondence with Harper Collins 2000-2007]

DL/A-Z//HARPER C/4

Sub-file

[Correspondence with Harper Collins 2000-2007]

10/01/2000-30/03/2007

1 Fax
2 Memorandum
12 Letters (typescript)
1 Invitation
1 Greetings cards

Harper Collins

116 is a letter from Eddie Bell of Harper Collins to Doris Lessing. He congratulates her for receiving an honour [likely the Order of the Companion of Honour] and asks her to host an authors' Q&A. Lessing circles her chosen date.

117 is a letter from Harper Collins to Lessing arranging publicity events to promote Ben, in the World. Lessing ticks and annotates the list.

118 is an invitation for Lessing to attend the Harper Collins Authors of 2000 party.

119 is a memorandum regarding the design for the spine, cover and flap of The Grandmothers. It features proposed copy, including critical praise and a blurb. Lessing has highlighted the blurb and hand written "no".

120 is a letter from Lessing to Philip Gwyn Jones of Harper Collins, made with reference to 119. Lessing criticises the proposed blurb for lacking "impact", and provides an alternative blurb. Lessing mentions that she mentions three titles – Shikasta, The Memoirs of a Survivor and Briefing for a Descent Into Hell – "to remind booksellers of their existence".

121 is a letter from Caroline Michel of Harper Collins to Lessing, announcing her recent arrival at the company.

122 is a letter from Arabella Pike of Harper Collins to Lessing, thanking her for forwarding a copy of Nancy Shield's manuscript Henrietta of India, but informing her that the books epistolary format makes it unsuitable for publication. She asks whether Shields would consider reworking it into a conventional narrative.

123 is a memorandum from Harper Collins announcing the launch of the imprint Harper Perennial. Lessing's name is listed among Perennial's authors.

124 is a letter from Venetia Butterfield of Harper Perennial to Lessing, enclosing the first author catalogue [missing], in which Lessing features.

125 is a letter from Michel, announcing the closure of the Flamingo imprint.

126 is a letter from Louise Tucker of Harper Perennial, announcing new "P.S." sections to be appended to selected paperback publications in the imprint: About the Author, About the Book and Read On. She asks whether Lessing likes the idea. Lessing hand writes "No!".

127 is a letter from Terry Karten of Harper Collins to Lessing, announcing that she has read Lessing's latest manuscript, The Story of General Dann and Mara's Daughter, Griot and the Snow Dog, and "just loved it". Karten praises the handling of themes and focuses on the characters of Ruff and Griot.

128 is a letter from Jon Butler to Lessing, announcing his resignation from Harper Collins.

129 is a fax from Harper Collins to Lessing, arranging publicity engagements promoting The Cleft.

130 is a letter from Paul Baggaley to Lessing, introducing himself as publishing director of Harper Perennial and announcing that they will be reprinting The Good Terrorist and The Golden Notebook in paperback. Lessing hand writes [in reference to reply] "8.1.07".

131 is a greetings card from Baggaley to Lessing, thanking her for her letter [a missing reply to 130]. He mentions "P.S." sections for the books being republished, and admits the possibility of reprinting The Fifth Child.

132 is a letter from Baggaley to Lessing, announcing the forthcoming publication of paperback editions of The Good Terrorist and The Golden Notebook. He discusses the cover images for the books, and addresses Lessing's concern that the cover for The Good Terrorist had "such a relatively small female presence".