Elizabeth Stead literary manuscripts and papers relating to her novel ‘The Fishcastle’, 1995-2000

MLMSS 8548

fonds

1995-2000

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Clippings

412477

0.65 metres of textual material (4 boxes)

Elizabeth Stead (1932- ), author is the granddaughter of pioneer naturalist, conservationist and storyteller David George Stead (1887-1957) and Thistle Harris, and niece of famous Australian author Christina Stead (1902-1983). Elizabeth married her Naval Officer husband in the 1950s, a time when the role of women in society was starting to evolve quickly.

Her first novel ‘The Fishcastle’ was inspired by her grandfather. It’s original working title ‘Fish Dancing’, was changed to ‘The Fishcastle’ following suggestions from her editor. Before its release in Australia in 2000, Penguin Books sold ‘the Fishcastle’ to The Women’s Press, London, to be released in the UK and Europe in March 2001.

Stead also published collection of short stories, ‘Knitting Emily Bridget’, a radio play, a one-act play for NIDA, various magazine pieces, and in the 1980s a series of spoof letters to the Australian. She is President of the Society of Women Writers of NSW.

References:
Library correspondence file
Compiled from the collection

Papers concerning Elizabeth Stead's first novel, 'The Fishcastle':

BOX 1
NOTES:
Early notes, drafts and research, ca. 1995-1996
Three notebooks containing draft notes for ‘Fish Dancing’, 1995-1996
‘Fishcastle’ manuscript notes, 1998

BOXES 1-4
MANUSCRIPTS:
Three typescript drafts, ‘Fish Dancing: A Novel’, 1996
Annotated typescript chapter drafts and notes for ‘Fish Dancing’, 1996-1998
Complete typescript with original first chapter, 1998
Annotated draft typescript, ‘Fish Dancing’ with changes to chapter one, 1998
Annotated draft typescript, ‘Fish Dancing’ minus first part of chapter one for rewrite, 1998
Final annotated typescript ‘Fish Dancing’ sent to Penguin publishers with letter from the editor Rachel Scully, 2000
Annotated typescript and notes for Maui Writers Retreat with critique by Steve Goldsberry, 1998

BOX 4
PUBLICITY MATERIAL:
Four photographs, flyers and letters relating to the book launch at the Sydney Writer’s Festival, May 2000
Book reviews published in newspapers, periodicals and magazines, 1999-2000

CORRESPONDENCE:
Letters between publishers and author relating to final edits to chapters, roughs and proofs and artworks for the book jacket, 1999-2000

ELECTRONIC MATERIAL:
Two floppy disks with letter from editor enclosing notes and annotations for chapter one, 1999
Four floppy disks of early drafts sent to Rob Knox, 1999

PRINTED MATERIAL:
One printed booklet ‘Penguin Notes for Reading Groups, Elizabeth Stead, the Fishcastle’, ca. 2000
One printed book, The Fishcastle / Elizabeth Stead London : The Women's Group, 2001. Located in the online catalogue for published material ML 823.92/5561

Copyright status:: In copyright
Approval for reproduction required: From copyright owner

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012