Articles

Component identifier:

Series 6

Content Summary:

This series consists of articles by Richardson as well as articles about her and her work. Typed final drafts with handwritten alterations of 'The magic of the new concert room' and 'Cosima Wagner as daughter and wife' are both signed by Richardson. The title of the latter article was changed to 'The story of Wagner and von Bülow - and the woman behind the music', when published in the Radio times, 29 August 1930. Articles Richardson wrote about her work include a typed draft with handwritten alterations of 'My favourite among my books' and typed final drafts with handwritten alterations of articles entitled 'Some notes on my books', which discuss the writing of most of her novels and short stories. The series also includes a short autobiographical article by Richardson. Professor J.G. Robertson's critical essay, 'The art of Henry Handel Richardson', a typed copy of an article about Richardson's work by S.B. Liljegren, and a handwritten copy of criticism of Richardson's work by Henry Lüdeke comprise the articles of literary criticism in this series. A typed draft of an article by Louise Theis written after an interview with Richardson has handwritten alterations and corrections by Richardson on it and is entitled 'How writers work: Henry Handel Richardson'. Other articles in the series include a review of Myself when young by Guy Innes, and two articles by Olga Roncoroni, one describing a certain morning in the life of Richardson and the other discussing Roncoroni's impressions of the film Rhapsody (1954), which was based on the novel Maurice Guest.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The original collection of Richardson Papers was purchased from Miss Olga Roncoroni,the executrix of Richardson's will, in 1946 and consisted of the typescripts of mostof her books, as well as the notes that she compiled when doing the research forThe fortunes of Richard Mahony. In 1971 a majorconsignment of papers was purchased from Richardson's nephew, Dr Walter Neustatter ofLondon. It comprised correspondence, notebooks, photographs and other items relatingto Richardson's parents. In 1972 another large group of papers was presented by MissOlga Roncoroni. It contained personal papers and documents belonging to Richardson,diaries, letters, articles, and material collected by Richardson when writingThe young Cosima. Between 1946 and 1971 additional Richardson Papers were received from a number ofsources. They include letters from Richardson to Oliver Stonor, 1929-1946; typedcopies of letters from Richardson to Jacob Schwartz, 1931-1933; and photographicprints of letters from Richardson to Mary Kernot, 1911-1946, the originals of whichare held by the Mitchell Library. Papers relating to Richardson's husband, ProfessorJ.G. Robertson, include his biographical notes about Richardson, photocopies oflectures, and galley proofs of a book. The letters from Richardson to Mary Kernotwere closed until 20 March 1996. In 1983, the Library received Richardson's correspondence with Paul Solanges,1910-1914, about his translation of Maurice Guest, andnotes on the translation, as well as diaries and albums of newspaper cuttingsmaintained by Richardson and her heirs, and a number of editions of Richardson'sbooks. In 1993, the Library acquired from the University of Tasmania the collectionof books used by Richardson in researching her book The youngCosima. In 1996, 44 letters to Richardson from her sister Lilian were acquired from thelatter's granddaughter, along with two letters from Walter Neustatter and additionalphotographs. In 2001, original manuscript scores of music composed by Richardson donated under the Cultural Gifts Program by Professor Clive Probyn and Dr Bruce Steele. They in turn had acquired them from Margaret Capon as part of the Monash University Henry Handel Richardson Project in 1996. The music was used for the publications Henry Handel Richardson: the music and Songs of Henry Handel Richardson, both of which were edited by Bruce Steele and Richard Divall and published in 2000.

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