Letters and papers of James Agate

This series primarily consists of letters from James Evershed Agate (JEA) to ANM, but also includes some typescripts and newspaper articles. Born in Lancashire, JEA worked in the textile trade for 17 years before turning to dramatic criticism. In 1907 he joined the Manchester Guardian team of critics, where he first met ANM. The earliest of these letters date from this period; they span JEA's experiences during the First World War, and end during the 1920s. By this time JEA was living in London where, after briefly running an unsuccessful grocers' shop, he succeeded as a freelance dramatic critic, publishing further volumes of essays and novels. The letters reveal the contrast in temperament and literary tastes of the two men, who nevertheless enjoyed a lasting friendship. The wartime letters give an insight into life in the Army Service Corps in France, where, despite the proximity of the Front Line, JEA was able to enjoy a largely peaceful existence, removed from the conflict itself. Many of the wartime letters were used for publication, both in the Manchester Guardian and in JEA's book L of C (1917), and they show signs of editing by ANM. The often lengthy letters also contain much in-depth analysis of ANM's writing by a fellow dramatic critic. They have therefore been listed individually at item level.

Where letters are undated, dates have been inferred from postmarks and from the positioning of letters in the sequence, which was apparently kept in chronological order by ANM himself.