Anna Fienberg literary papers

MLMSS 12136/Boxes 1-14
MLMSS 12136/Box 15X
R 2438

fonds

1988-2023

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Drawings, Photographs, Watercolours, Medals

9679616

2.68 metres of textual material (14 boxes and 1 outsize box), includes drawings, watercolours and photographs - typescript, manuscript
1 medal

Anna Frienberg AM (1956- ) was born in Canterbury, Kent in England and came to Australia with her family when she was three years old. She gained a Bachelor of Arts / Psychology from Macquarie University before living in Italy for a year, then working as a counsellor. Inspired by her mother’s storytelling, Anna began writing from the age of eight. After an incident with a violent patient, she gave up her counselling job and turned to writing, editing the NSW School Magazine during the 1980s. Her first book, ‘Billy Bear and the Wild Winter’ was published in 1988. In 1992 she won the Children’s Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers for ‘The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels’. Anna Fienberg is perhaps best known for her ‘Tashi’ series of books, co-written with her mother Barbara and illustrated by Kim Gamble. In 2019 Anna Fienberg was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her services to literature.

Barbara Vaughan Fienberg (approximately 1930-2022) was raised in Woolloomooloo during the 1930s by parents who were members of the Communist Party. As a child she had befriended a Hungarian-Jewish refugee girl in her class, Mary Ronai. Barbara became a teacher-librarian who co-authored many books with her daughter Anna, with Mary reputedly being the inspiration behind the character of ‘Tashi’.

Kim Gamble (1952-2016) was a self-taught artist who was a professional illustrator, contributing to more than 70 children’s books. At the age of 36 he got his first illustration job when he was hired by Anna Fienberg in 1991 to draw for her book, ‘The Magnificent Nose and other Marvels’.

References:
1. "Anna Fienberg". Our Authors, Allen & Unwin. Archived from the Original, 5 March 2011. Accessed 21 March 2024.
https://web.archive.org/web/20110305023650/http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=312&author=5

2. Ribeiro, Celina. “Tashi: 25 years on and more than 1 million copies sold but still an ‘enchanted’ delight.” Books, The Guardian Australia, 18 June 2020. Accessed 21 March 2024.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/18/tashi-25-years-on-and-more-than-1-million-copies-sold-but-still-an-enchanted-delight

3. Taffel, Jacqui. “Kim Gamble, Tashi creator, dies at age 63.” Culture, Books. The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 February 2016. Accessed 21 March 2024.
https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/kim-gamble-tashi-creator-dies-at-63-20160220-gmz8zj.html

4. Library’s acquisition file

This consignment of papers includes draft manuscripts, research notes, and correspondence relating to published and unpublished books by Anna Fienberg, and original artwork by Kim Gamble. Also contains correspondence from readers and publishing contracts.

A. Draft manuscripts, research, notes, and correspondence relating to published and unpublished books, with original artwork:

BOX 1
Five folders: 'Wicked's Way'. Includes research notes, character development, draft manuscripts, correspondence from Sue Flockhart, editor at Allen & Unwin, and manuscript edits by Kate Whitfield, approximately 2013-2015.
Folder: 'The Witch in the Lake'. Includes correspondence from the editor, notes and research, loose pages of manuscript with edits, approximately 2000.

BOX 2
Folder: 'Horrendo's Curse'. Includes manuscript drafts with edits by Barbara Fienberg, correspondence, notes and proofs from Allen & Unwin editor Eva Mills, text design edits by Sandra Nobes, approximately 2001-2005.
Three folders: 'Number 8', working title 'Getting Even'. Includes notes, various manuscript copies with edits, approximately 2001-2005.

BOX 3
Folder: 'Number 8', American edits, 2007-2011.
Four folders: 'Louis Beside Himself', working title 'Five Star Frog Splash'. Includes manuscripts with edits by Sue Flockhart, editor, Allen & Unwin, notes by Rosalind Price, manuscripts for Chapters 1-5 with track changes editorial process, notes, article written by Anna Fienberg for 'Viewpoint 2021', publicity notes written by Anna Fienberg, 2007-2011.
Book: 'Louis Beside Himself', bound uncorrected proof from Allen & Unwin, 2012.

BOX 4
Two folders: 'Ariel, Zed and the Secret of Life', includes handwritten original manuscript in notebook with notes for School Magazine, typescript manuscript with edits.
Two folders: 'Borrowed Light', includes correspondence, notes, early typescript manuscript with edits by Barbara and Anna Fienberg, 1998.
Two books: 'Borrowed Light'. Bound uncorrected proof and bound uncorrected galley proof / advanced reader, 1999-2000.
Folder: 'Power to Burn', working title 'Ice and Fire', includes correspondence with publisher, notes, original typescript manuscript with edits by Barbara and Anna Fienberg, 1995.

BOX 5
Folder: 'Magnificent Nose, Andy and the Silliaza Circus', 1991.
Folder: 'Figaro & Rumba and the Crocodile Cafe', includes notes and research, correspondence with editor Sue Flockhard, typescript manuscripts with Sue Flockhart's edits, speech given by Anna Fienberg for book launch and copies of Stephen Michael King's roughs and colour proofs, 2004-2012.
Folder: 'Figaro & Rumba and the Cool Cats', containing original manuscript with Barbara Fienberg's edits, and second draft with edits by Sue Flockhart, 2012.
Folder: 'Tashi', copies of Kim Gamble's early character sketches.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Giants' / 'The Bandits', includes original pencil sketch of Tashi by Kim Gamble.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Genie' / 'The Stolen Children'.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Ghosts' / 'The Mountain of White Tigers'.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Dancing Shoes', with typescript manuscript.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Stolen Bus'.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Mixed-up Monsters' / 'Guilty or Not?'
Folder: 'Tashi and the Phoenix' / 'The Unexpected Letter'. Note, the Phoenix was originally called Firebird.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Golem' / 'Thinks Too Late', 2009-2012.

BOX 6
Folder: 'Tashi and the Big Stinker' / 'The Magic Flute', 1999.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Royal Tomb' / 'Book of Spells', includes Barbara Fienberg’s story outline for The Book of Spells, 2002.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Forbidden Room' / 'Three Tasks', 2004.
Folder: 'Tashi Lost in the City' / 'On the Way Home', manuscripts and proofs.
Folder: 'Tashi', containing research, correspondence, manuscript edits by Barbara Fienberg relating to various books including 'Dragon’s Blood Tree', 'The Dancing Shoes', 'The Haunted House', 'The Big Race'. With original omnibus cover for 'The Great Big Enormous Tashi' by Kim Gamble and original pencil map of Tashi's World by Kim Gamble with Barbara and Anna Fienberg's suggestions and calculations for distances and positioning.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Wicked Magician and other stories', 'Tashi the Brave'. Includes manuscript, Barbara Fienberg’s story outline for Tashi the Brave, 2012-2014.
Folder: 'Tashi Activity Book', probably 2008.
Folder: 'Tashi' artwork by Kim Gamble, includes pencil sketch of rally car featuring Tashi and Minton, pencil drawings for 'Tashi', 'Tashi and the Demons', 'The Magic Bell', 'Tashi and the Royal Tomb'. Watercolour of Tashi in different poses by Kim Gamble, Allen and Unwin promotional postcards and watercolour title of Tashi by Shane Nagle, in the style of Kim Gamble.
Folder: 'Tashi's Big Book of ABC'.
Folder: 'Eddie', with typescript manuscript of Anna Fienberg's first published book, 1988.
Folder: 'Joseph', featuring Kim Gamble's original story that became Anna Fienberg's words and his art, with personal note from Kim to Anne.

BOX 7
Folder: 'Tashi 20th Anniversary' / 'Tashi and the Silver Cup'.
Folder: 'Kidnapped!' from Tashi Storybook.
Folder: 'Once Tashi met a Dragon' picture book, 2013.
Folder: 'Tashi and the Stolen Forest', written after deaths of Barbara Fienberg and Kim Gamble, no new illustrations done for this book, 2020-2022.
Folder: 'There was Once a Boy Named Tashi' picture book, 2004.
Folder: Notes for 'Minton's Journey' / 'Minton Goes!' Includes one colour photoprint of Kim gamble and Anna Fienberg, for publicity.
Folder: 'Madeline the Mermaid', with editors' letter and colour proofs, 1995-1996.
Folder: 'The Ghost Bird', published in an international collection with title changes, exchanges stories for a new century, 2000.
Notebooks: Notes about novels including 'Witch in the Lake', 'Number 8', 'Borrowed Light', 'Wiggy and Boa' manuscripts.
Folder: 'Dead Sailors Don't Bite', incomplete manuscripts with typed first chapter of the sequel to 'Wiggy and Boa'.
Folder: 'The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived, The Musical', 1995.
Folder: Visit to remote Indigenous community in Titjikala, near Alice Springs, contains photographs and notes of workshop conducted by Kim Gamble and Anna Fienberg around 'Once Tashi Met a Dragon', 2013-2014.

B. Publishing contracts, largely with Allen & Unwin:

BOX 8
Three folders: 'Tashi' including translation and international rights, ABC Audio, 1994-2017.
Folder: 'Horrendo's Curse', 2001-2013.
Folder: 'The Hottest Boy who Ever Lived' / 'Minton', 1992-2014.
Folder: Multiple contracts including 'Power to Burn', 'Borrowed Light', 'Witch in the Lake', 'Joseph', 'The Hottest Boy', 'Ariel, Zed and the Secret of Life', Google Book Settlement, approximately 1991-2005.
Folder: 'Number 8', contract with Penguin, 2005-2009.

BOX 9
Folder: Multiple contracts including 'Magnificent Nose', 'Billy Bear and the Wild Winter', 'Thumbelina', 'Kids' Night In', 'The Nine Lives of Balthazar', 1991-2009.
Folder: Multiple contracts including 'Wiggy and Boa', 'Madeline the Mermaid', 'Figaro & Rumba and the Cool Cats', 'Louis Beside Himself', 'Escape', 'Monsters', approximately 1988-2014.
Folder: 'Tashi' and 'Minton' film correspondence, 2002, 2015.

C. Reviews and children's fan letters:

Folder: 'Magnificent Nose', reviews and children's letters, 1992-1995.
Folder: 'Ariel and Zed', reviews and children's letters, 1992-1996.
Folder: 'Wiggy and Boa, Dead Sailors Don't Bite', reviews and children's letters, 1989-1996.
Folder: Reviews and children's letters for multiple books including 'Number 8', 'Madeline the Mermaid', 'Power to Burn', 'Billy Bear and the Wild Winter', 1988-2006.
Folder: Reviews and children's letters for multiple books including 'The Witch in the Lake', 'Joseph', 'Horrendo's Curse', 'Louis Beside Himself', 2001-2003.

BOX 10
Folder: 'Borrowed Light', reviews and children's letters, 1999-2002.
Folder: 'Tashi', 'Minton', reviews and children's letters, 1996-2009.
Folder: 'Hottest Boy', 'Minton', reviews and children's letters, 1993-1999.
Two folders: Mixed children’s fan letters, 1989-2003.

BOX 11
Three folders: Children’s fan letters regarding 'Tashi', approximately 1995-2017.

BOX 12
Folder: Children’s fan mail regarding School Magazine, approximately 1995.

D. School Magazine, articles, presentations, correspondence and awards:

Folder: Koala Award certificates, 2001-2005
Folder: Media Discords, letters, and articles in the Sydney Morning Herald including 'Precious Objects', printed from voice memo for the ABC’s Radio National ‘Life in 500 words’ series, eulogy for Barbara Fienberg, letter from Ursula Dubosarky read at Barbara Fienberg's funeral, ‘Inside Life’ article commissioned by SCIS, Australia Reads notes, article for Child Magazine, 1981-2023.
Folder: School Magazine. Including magazines with articles written by Anna Fienberg, correspondence with Jonathan Shaw, correspondence with Magpies editor, copies of School Magazine with covers by Ann James, Kim Gamble, Noela Young. 1981-2016.
Folder: School Magazine. Includes photographs of Anna Fienberg, copies of speeches, book reviews, articles. Also includes letters from Ruth Park, Ivan Southall and Margaret Mahy regarding interviews and permissions, letters regarding 'The Nine Lives of Balthazar', 1988-1993.
Folder: Anna Fienberg articles, presentations and talks. Includes controversy over abridged version of May Gibbs work and letter from Tohby Riddle responding as editor of School Magazine, 1997, notes for various speeches and presentations, notes and manuscripts for various stories, 1983-2007.

E. Further draft manuscripts, research, notes and correspondence:

BOX 13
Folder: 'Monsters' manuscript and notes including launch speech, eulogy for Kim Gamble, Allen and Unwin publicity questionnaire, Sydney Morning Herald 'Spectrum' article and others, publisher correspondence with Anna Fienberg and Stephen Axelsen, joint illustrator with Kim Gamble, 2015-2018.
Folder: Manuscripts for Penguin’s short story collections 'War Child' for 'Kid’s Night In', 'My Friend Max', 'The Chain', 2002-2003.
Folder: 'Thumbelina' manuscripts, research material, correspondence from publisher, illustrators and Anna Fienberg, 'Thumbelina' roughs, 1999-2002.
Screenplays: ‘Borrowed Light’, three drafts, not made, 2002-2003.
Folder: Correspondence from Flying Bark, company that animated Tashi and from Mark Radvan, creator of the Tashi plays for Imaginary Theatre, 2012-2014.

BOX 14
Folder: 'Escape', original manuscript, chapters 1-6.
Folder: 'Escape', original manuscript, chapters 7-16.
Folder: Papers relating to 'Escape', including structural report, first edit and comments by Vanessa Mickan-Gramazio, synopsis for Random House, article 'The life of a novel', article for Australian Jewish News, notes for 'Making the Switch' teachers conference, Dog Blog, golden definition in Jewish Encyclopedia ('Tashi and the Golem' written concurrently with 'Escape'), editing notes and reordering of chapters, correspondence with Fiona Inglis and Rod Morrison, 2007-2009.

F. Large format material:

BOX 15X
Dummy book for ‘Balthazar Takes Off’, unpublished sequel to ‘Balthazar's Nine Lives’.
Final cover for with gold foil, ‘Tashi and the Royal Tomb’.
Poster, Imaginary Theatre ‘Tashi’.
Photocopy of a storyboard for ‘There Once was a Boy called Tashi’ by Kim Gamble.
Photocopy of rough illustrations for 'Minton' by Kim Gamble.
Photocopy of drawings for ‘Figaro and Rumba’ by Stephen Michael King.
Rough illustrations for ‘There Once was a Boy called Tashi’ and unused ‘The Ogre’.
Rough illustrations for ‘The Magnificent Nose’ by Kim Gamble.
Watercolour border for the cover of 'The Magnificent Nose'.
Watercolour, ‘Madeline the Mermaid’ by Ann James.
Watercolour on card, ‘Dear Anna, finally here it is!' by Ann James.

G. Medal:

R 2438
Children's Book Council of Australia. Children's Book of the Year Award, Younger Readers, awarded to Anna Fienberg for 'The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels', 1992.

In copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

Contents list adapted from inventory created by Anna Fienberg.