Letters from P. L. Travers to Rupert and Helen Sleadow

MLMSS 12228

fonds

1970-1981

9683085

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder)

Pamela Lyndon Travers, OBE (1899-1996) (born Helen Lyndon Goff) was an Australian-born actor,
columnist and writer best known for creating the Mary Poppins books which she began
writing in 1933. In addition to the Mary Poppins series, Travers wrote other fiction, nonfiction and poetry collections.

Reference
Library correspondence file

Sold by vendor on behalf of recipients' niece

Collection of four letters written by P. L. Travers to friends, Rupert and Helen Sleadow between 1970 and 1981.

1. No date, Virginia
Two-page letter (approximately 1970) in which Travers describes a trip through the desert, a stay in Virginia with friends preparing lectures to be given in California and the possible publication of an encyclopaedia of articles in the United States. Travers also asks Rupert to send work from Kathleen
[Raine], John Symons and Ellie Howe and tells Helen in particular about
the conservatory and the modern gadgets in the home.

2. 8 March 1970, Claremont, California
Two-page letter on Scripps College letterhead paper in which Travers tells her friends about the Dr Dennison Morey roses she ‘commissioned’ - the Sleeping Beauty and the Pamela Travers and how much she enjoyed visiting Berkeley and San Francisco universities.
Travers also expresses her dislike of Australia ("Get me out of Australia as quickly as possible") and her relief at having left home and family in London.

3. 2 June 1970, Virginia
Typed aerogram in which Travers expresses her desire to write under another name in order to test herself and be a beginner again, rather than someone who is known. She also refers to British poet and critic Kathleen Raine, shares her thoughts on Rome and contemplates a move to Ireland.

4. 10 September 1970, Ireland
Two-page letter in which Travers shares her travel plans with the Sleadows, including a trip to Poland and her intention to live in New York for the winters.
She also reveals an upcoming project writing a television play for Danny Kaye based on ‘Jack Frost’ and tells of being two thirds through writing her new book.

5. 12 June 1981, London
Handwritten notecard in which Travers writes about kind gestures from people and mentions a quote from Theocritus, ‘Truly great grace goes with a little gift and all the offerings of friends are precious.’

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

Year undated letter was written has been estimated by cataloguer based on the year P. L. Travers presented the lecture, 'In search of the hero!', i.e. 1970.