The University of Manchester, The John Rylands University Library
CEM
Papers of C.E. Montague
1874-[1979]
Montague, Charles Edward, 1867-1928
5.3 li.m.
English
Collection available at John Rylands Library, Deansgate.
Biographical History
Charles Edward Montague was born in Ealing on 1st January 1867, the third of Francis and Rosa Montague's four sons. His parents had left their native Ireland to marry and settle in England after Francis deserted the Catholic priesthood, and they subsequently broke almost all ties with their families in Ireland. Francis remained an ardent Irish Nationalist, however, and awakened in his son a keen interest in the Irish question which was subsequently reflected in his journalism.
C.E. Montague grew up in Twickenham where the family moved in 1869, and from 1879 he travelled into London daily to attend the City of London School. His early love of literature was developed at school, as well as his lifelong passion for the power of language and the craftsmanship of writing (which is best articulated in the posthumously published collection of essays,
A Writer's Notes on His Trade).
From school he won a classical scholarship to Oxford, and in 1885 he entered Balliol College as a classical exhibitioner. After graduating in 1889 he wrote occasional reviews for the
Manchester Guardian while looking for work, and in 1890 was taken on by the editor C.P. Scott as a permanent member of staff. Manchester, a city which he came to love, thus became his home for the next 35 years until his retirement from the paper.
Under C.P. Scott, the
Manchester Guardian had been transformed from a moderate Whig journal into the leading organ of Liberal opinion and played an important role in all the foremost debates of the day. C.E. Montague's Liberal sympathies found expression in articles on, among many other topics, Irish home rule (he visited Ireland as a special correspondent in 1891), imperialism and the Boer War, tariff reform, women's suffrage, and the constitutional issues leading up to the Parliament Act of 1911. On the retirement of W.T. Arnold in 1898, Montague became the chief leader writer and second in command to Scott, in effect acting as editor while Scott was a Member of Parliament during the period 1895-1906. Also in 1898, Montague married Scott's daughter, Madeline. They settled at 10 Oak Drive in the Fallowfield area of Manchester and were to have seven children - five sons and two daughters.
Montague's writing for the
Guardian was not restricted purely to current affairs and politics. Inspired by his appreciation of language and literature, he established a considerable reputation as a reviewer and dramatic critic, playing an important role in the `Manchester School' of drama and criticism which was loosely connected to Annie Horniman's Gaiety Theatre founded in 1908. Some of his dramatic reviews written for the Guardian were reprinted in The Manchester Stage 1890-1900 (1900), to which W.T. Arnold, Oliver Elton and Allan Monkhouse also contributed; and other reviews formed the basis of Dramatic Values, a volume of critical essays on drama by Montague published in 1911.
Whereas Montague's talent as a critic was recognized early, he was 43 before his first work of fiction was published: in
A Hind Let Loose (1910) he drew on his own experience to produce a novel satirizing modern journalism and the methods of the `low' journalist. A second novel, The Morning's War, was published in 1913, but it was not until after the First World War, (a momentous event in his life and a great influence on his later work), that Montague's talents as a short story writer and an essayist were developed more fully.
When war broke out in 1914, despite his age, Montague enlisted as a private soldier in a spirit of idealism and patriotism, and expressed his belief in the righteousness of the cause. He joined the Royal Fusiliers and in 1915 he went to France and spent some weeks fighting on the front line. Having been invalided back to England, he was commissioned as an intelligence officer in 1916 and returned to France where he had the job of conducting distinguished visitors, such as diplomats, MPs and writers, over the western front. In 1917 he became an assistant press censor, dealing with the despatches of the press correspondents on the front.
After demobilization in 1919 he returned to his job on the
Manchester Guardian and his feelings about the war found expression in his journalism as well as in his essays and fictional works. He had become disillusioned by the attitudes of the regular army towards the war, by the blunders of the military leaders, and by what he saw as the unnecessarily mercenary nature of the peace treaty. His bitterness is strongly articulated in Disenchantment (1922), a collection of essays on the war, which widened his reputation considerably. The war also figures in a number of the short stories collected in the volume Fiery Particles (1923). This was followed, on a different note, with a collection of travel essays, The Right Place, in 1924.
In 1925, Montague retired from the
Guardian, and moved to Burford in Oxfordshire. However, he remained a member of the board of directors of the newspaper, and attended most of the monthly meetings. He continued to contribute to the paper whilst also writing fiction inspired both by his feelings about the war and by long-standing preoccupations, such as his dislike of the English public school system and his love of the Alps and mountaineering. The novels Rough Justice (1926) and Right Off the Map (1927) appeared during his lifetime, and posthumously published were Action (1928) - short stories, and A Writer's Notes on his Trade (1930). In 1926 he was awarded an honorary Litt.D by Manchester University. In 1928, during a visit to Manchester to attend the University Founder's Day celebrations he developed pneumonia after catching a chill and died on 28 May.
He was remembered as a slightly reserved, though well-liked man who was always modest about his achievements and often dissatisfied with his fictional writings. He was fiercely moral and determined to expose what he saw as corruption and fight for the truth, both in his journalism and his fictional work.
Archival history
The collection consists of the journalistic and literary papers of C.E. Montague which came into the possession of his daughter, Mrs Rose Elton. Mrs Elton presented them to the John Rylands Library as a gift on 22 July 1976. An additional gift of four letters was made in 1979.
Scope and content
The collection contains material reflecting the whole of C.E. Montague's career as a journalist and an author. The volumes of press cuttings include Montague's varied contributions to the
Manchester Guardian dating from 1890, the year he joined the paper, to 1928, the year of his death, as well as his writings for other journals and newspapers. There is also some correspondence relating to his job at the Guardian and his retirement from the paper. His literary career is represented by the numerous notes, drafts, manuscripts and typescripts of his books, showing the gradual evolution from rough ideas to the completed text. Correspondence reflects his relationships with his different publishers and includes letters to Montague about his books from diverse writers and artists. In addition there are reviews of his books from various papers, and a small amount of miscellaneous material, such as a thesis on Montague from 1930 and souvenirs from World War I.
Arrangement
The collection was originally sorted and listed by Mrs Elton, the loose documents arriving at the library sorted into packages and labelled with typed captions. In addition, there appeared to be a small number of items which were not included in the list, as well as the subsequent accession of 4 letters. In preparing this updated list, while retaining the original order of the material as far as possible, the archivist has taken the opportunity to arrange the collection into broad subgroups reflecting the division between Montague's journalistic and literary work. It was not thought necessary to create a separate subgroup for the letters received in 1979, although they are noted as being a later accession. All former reference numbers are given throughout to facilitate reconstruction of the original list. Where two former references are noted, the first refers to an original accession number and the second to the list compiled by Rose Elton. Various pieces of useful information included in the original list from Mrs Elton's personal knowledge have been noted in the new list.
C.E. Montague is referred to as CEM throughout the list.
Organization
The subgroups into which the collection has been divided are as follows:
- CEM/1 Journalistic material.
- CEM/2 Literary material.
- CEM/3 Miscellaneous and related material.
Preferred Citation
Papers of C.E. Montague, CEM/2/1/2/1 (etc.), The John Rylands University Library, The University of Manchester.
Restrictions on access
The collection is open to any accredited reader.
This finding aid may contain personal or sensitive personal data about living individuals. Under Section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) has the right to process such personal data for research purposes. The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2000 enables the JRUL to process sensitive personal data for research purposes. In accordance with the DPA, the JRUL has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately, according to the Data Protection Principles.
Restrictions on use
Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.
A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.
Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Library, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PP.
Other finding aids
None.
Related materials
The John Rylands Library (Deansgate) holds the papers of the writer and journalist, Allan Monkhouse ( ANM), who was one of Montague's fellow drama critics on the
Manchester Guardian. This collection includes 87 letters from Montague and many letters from other writers and critics, reflecting the literary world of the time.
The
Guardian archive, also containing some C.E.Montague correspondence. Handlists for these collections are available via the JRUL's Guide to Special Collections.
Bibliography
See also:Oliver Elton, C.E. Montague: A Memoir , (London: Chatto and Windus, 1929).
C.P. Scott 1846-1932: The Making of the 'Manchester Guardian', (London: Frederick Muller Ltd, 1946): contains much information on the history of the
Guardian and includes an article by C.E. Montague on his father-in-law.
Montague
Charles Edward
1867-1928
critic and journalist
Manchester
Manchester Guardian
Dramatic criticism
England
Journalism
England
Journalists
Correspondence
England
Journalism
Political aspects
England
World War, 1914-1918
Constituent Records
CEM/1
Journalistic material
1874-1928; 1953
2 series.
Scope and content
This subgroup, which consists predominantly of press cuttings, contains material reflecting CEM's whole career as a journalist, from early contributions to magazines written whilst an undergraduate at Oxford, through his 35 years at the
Manchester Guardian, to articles written during his retirement both for the Guardian and for other publications. CEM often used his journalistic work as the basis for his essays and stories, so in many of these press cuttings can be seen the raw material for his literary work. The correspondence reflects CEM's day to day work on the Guardian, and shows the respect in which his work was held by other journalists and leading figures of the time.
CEM/1/1
Press cuttings
1874-1928; 1953
4 sub-series.
Condition: the paste used to fix the cuttings to the pages has, in many cases caused discolouration, and in some cases the print is almost obscured.
Scope and content
The majority of items in this series are volumes of varying sizes into which newspaper cuttings have been pasted. Many of the volumes also contained loose cuttings and other material such as leaflets and letters relevant to the articles and reviews. In such cases, the material has been removed and placed in an envelope inside the volume and each loose piece given a running number, the quantity and nature of the loose items being noted in the list. Where the volumes have numbered pages and items have been inserted at a particular page, the location of the removed material has also been noted.
CEM/1/1/1
C.E. Montague's output on the Manchester Guardian
1890-1928
25 items. Page numbering occurs in vols CEM/1/1/1/8-22.
Scope and content
These volumes of press cuttings contain contributions made by CEM to the
Guardian from the year he joined the newspaper to the year of his death; articles dating from 1925-8 were written during his retirement. There are no contributions dating from 1915-18 when CEM was serving in the Army.
A list of all the leading articles written by CEM for the
Guardian, along with the date on which they appeared, can be found in the printed version of the catalogue and may be used to locate the volumes in which specific leaders appear.
Arrangement
Some of the volumes contain a small number of articles written as contributions to other publications, or
Guardian material which is either undated or dates from a year other than that of the majority of the cuttings in the volume. These volumes have been listed under the predominant date with a note of any material which either does not conform to this date or which was not printed in the Guardian. In the few cases where articles, or sections of articles, were written by journalists other than CEM, the fact has been marked beside the relevant cuttings by CEM himself.
CEM/1/1/1/1
Press cuttings book
1890
GC14314.
II A, 4.
Hardback volume,
19 x 23 cms.
Condition: a number of pages have been torn out at the front of the volume, and various cuttings have been removed.
Correspondent's reports, 13 Feb-25 Nov: these reports cover affairs of all kinds both local (to Manchester) and national, and the two reports from February come from London. Leaders, 22 Mar-3 May.Journal and magazine reviews, 2 Apr-21 May.Dramatic reviews, 25 Mar-29 April.Art reviews, 25 Mar-23 May. Book reviews, mostly undated.
Signed by CEM on the first page, with his address given as 2 Cowley Street, Westminster (possibly a temporary address).
CEM/1/1/1/2
Press cuttings book
5 May 1890-22 Dec 1891
GC14310.
II A, 5.
Hardback volume,
18.5 x 23 cms.
Condition: Fragile spine, held together with sellotape.
Leaders, 5 May 1890-22 Dec 1891. The leader of 20 Nov 1890 about Balfour's speech at Southport on 19 Nov is noted as being by W.T.A [William Thomas Arnold].Correspondent's reports, 18 Sep 1890-22 Dec 1891.Obituary of the Canadian Prime Minister, Sir John Macdonald, 8 Jun 1891.
CEM/1/1/1/3
Press cuttings book
1890-1891
GC14312.
II A, 1.
Softback exercise book,
16.5 x 20.5 cms.
Special correspondent's reports from Ireland, covering the by-elections at Kilkenny (Dec 1890) and Carlow (Jul 1891); describing general opinion in Ireland in the wake of Charles Stewart Parnell's divorce case and the bitter rivalry and violence in the localities between the followers of Parnell and those of Michael Davitt. Obituary note on Parnell, 8 Oct 1891.
The volume has a brief note of its contents in CEM's handwriting on the inside of the front cover.
CEM/1/1/1/4
Press cuttings book
30 Aug 1890-21 Jan 1895
GC14316.
II A, 3.
Hardback volume,
18 x 23 cms.
Condition: fragile spine.
Art reviews, of exhibitions at galleries based predominantly in the north west.
1 loose cutting.
CEM/1/1/1/5
Press cuttings book
1890-1896
GC14313.
II A, 2.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Condition: spine fragile and held together by tape.
Dramatic reviews, May 1890-Jan 1896, including performances by Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. A number of these have been detached or cut out and Rose Elton comments that these may have been used in compiling
The Manchester Stage (1900).Literary reviews, mostly undated.
Loose material (9 items in total) consists of: 3 loose pages which have seemingly become detached, from Sep 1892; 3 cuttings; a letter from the Manchester playwright W.A. Brabner in response to a review of his play
Kenneth Dunbar, printed in the Guardian on 30 Mar 1893 (30 Mar 1893, 2 sheets); printed copy of A Note on the Character of Macbeth , an address delivered by Henry Irving to the Literary Society of Owen's College on 11 Dec 1894 (14 pp., with handwritten additions and corrections, and some small sections cut out).
CEM/1/1/1/6
Press cuttings book
23 Dec 1891-27 Aug 1892
GC14311.
II A, 6.
Hardback volume,
19 x 23 cms.
Leaders.
CEM/1/1/1/7
Press cuttings book
29 Aug 1892-6 Jan 1893
GC14309.
II A, 7.
Softback volume,
20 x 24.5 cms.
Leaders, 29 Aug 1892-6 Jan 1893.Critique of Joseph Chamberlain's article on the `labour question' printed in the November issue of the
Nineteenth Century, 29 October, 1892.
CEM/1/1/1/8
Press cuttings book
1893
GC14346.
II A, 8.
Hardback volume,
25.5 x 37 cms.
Condition: fragile spine, held with sellotape.
Leaders, 7 Jan-30 Dec (pp. 1-173).Articles on the new University of Wales, 30 Mar and 24 Nov, and on the new coinage, 6 Feb (pp. 199-200).
Loose material consists of: a letter dated 12 April 1893 inserted at pp. 50-51 from the vicar of the Armenian Church in Manchester, S Baronian[?], in response to the leader on Turkish persecution of the Armenians; letter and enclosure both dated 29 January 1895 inserted at pp. 164-65: original enquiry addressed to A.J. Mundella (President of the Board of Trade and writer of the daily `London Letter' for the
Guardian) at the London office of the Guardian, from Garnham Roper, his private secretary at the Board of Trade, requesting back copies of the newspaper which dealt with the report on labour in France; this enquiry was forwarded with a covering letter by Mundella to the Manchester office.
The volume is signed and dated Jan 1893 by Montague on the first page.
CEM/1/1/1/9
Press cuttings book
1894
GC14350.
II A, 9.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Condition: very fragile binding on the spine, held with sellotape.
Leaders, 1 Jan-30 Dec (pp. 1-178).Obituary of Robert Louis Stevenson, 18 December (pp. 195-6).Obituary of Professor Romanes of Oxford University, 24 May (p. 196).Article on the new Liberal Prime Minister, Lord Rosebery, 4 March (pp. 198-9).Article on the Irish Members and Home Rule, 6 March (p. 199).Also unsigned contributions the
The New Weekly, 31 March, 7 and 14 April (pp. 197; 199-200).
3 loose cuttings, including one from the
Clarion , written in response to Guardian leaders by CEM.
CEM/1/1/1/10
Press cuttings book
1895
GC14340.
II A, 10.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 2 Jan-28 Dec (pp. 1-172).Book reviews, mostly undated (pp. 187-94; 196-200).Report on the first conferring of honorary degrees by the Victoria University of Manchester, 30 May (p. 195).
2 loose cuttings, both letters to the editor: 1 inserted at pp. 80-81 and relating to the opium question; another at pp. 166-7, relating to the Venezuelan crisis.
CEM/1/1/1/11
Press cuttings book
1896
GC14342.
II A, 11.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Condition: binding on the spine of the volume is fragile and held with sellotape; one leaf (pp. 197-198) has become detached.
Leaders, 1 Jan-31 Dec (pp. 1-191).Book reviews, undated (pp. 192-3; 196-200).Report on a speech made by Gladstone at Liverpool on the subject of Turkish atrocities against Armenia, 25 Sep (p. 194).Obituary of George du Maurier, 9 Oct (p. 195).
Loose material (originally tucked into a flap inside the front cover of the volume) includes:Items 1-4: 3 letters to the editor and one cutting relating to Anglo-American relations over the Venezuelan crisis following the issue of President Cleveland's manifesto of December 1895 regarding American policy in the dispute;Items 5-11: 4 letters and 1 handwritten article sent to the
Guardian in Jan-Feb 1896, relating to the newspaper's treatment of the Transvaal crisis which arose following the Jameson Raid of December 1895, ultimately leading to the Boer War. These letters are written in appreciation of the stance taken by CEM and the Guardian, which, in its support of the Boers, went against general public opinion at the time.
CEM/1/1/1/12
Press cuttings book
1897
GC14341.
II A, 12.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Condition: binding on the spine of the volume is loose and only attached by one edge. Half of p. 193, and pp. 194-6 are missing.
Leaders, 1 Jan-31 Dec (pp. 1-170).Dramatic reviews, 29 Nov and 19 Jul (pp. 193 and 197).Book reviews, undated (pp.199-200).
Loose material consists of a programme from the Prince's Theatre in Manchester inserted before p. 197, advertising Sarah Bernhardt in
La Dame aux Camelias and La Tosca, Jul 1897.
CEM/1/1/1/13
Press cuttings book
1898
GC14344.
II A, 13.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 1 Jan-17 Dec (pp. 1-147).Art reviews, including some from 1893-1894 (pp. 150-53).Dramatic reviews, including some from 1894 (pp. 189-93).Book reviews, mostly undated (pp.194-200).
Loose material consists of a note inserted at pp. 66-7 and a loose cutting at pp. 192-3.
CEM/1/1/1/14
Press cuttings book
1899-1900
GC14282.
II A, 14.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 18 Jan 1899-1 Sep 1900 (pp. 1-105; 120-210).Obituary of the French dramatic critic, Francisque Sarcey, 1900 (p.108).Book reviews, Feb-Dec 1899 (pp. 105-110; 117- 119).Dramatic reviews, Jan-Dec 1899 (pp. 110-117). These primarily relate to Frank Benson's season of Shakespeare plays at the Theatre Royal in Manchester, Nov-Dec 1899. In these reviews CEM outlines his theory of Richard II which was reprinted in
The Manchester Stage.
1 loose cutting inserted at pp. 160-1.
Includes handwritten index at the front of the volume.
CEM/1/1/1/15
Press cuttings book
1900-1901
GC14281.
II A, 15.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 4 Sep 1900-29 Oct 1901 (pp. 1-45; 60-149).Book reviews, Jan 1900-Oct 1901 (pp. 45-7; 152-3).Dramatic reviews, Mar 1900-Jul 1901 (pp. 50-58; 149-52).
Letters to the editor about the Boer War, signed `a patriot', Aug-Sep 1900 (pp. 47-9), and signed `Chapter and Verse', 1901 (p.59).
Includes handwritten list of contents and index at the front of the volume.
CEM/1/1/1/16
Press cuttings book
1901-1903
GC14345.
II A, 16.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 6 Nov 1901-13 Jul 1903 (pp. 1-85; 107-96).Book reviews, Jun 1901-May 1903 (pp. 85-96; 197-202).Art reviews, Jun 1901, Jun 1902, May 1903 (pp. 96-7).Dramatic reviews, Jun 1901- May 1903 (pp. 97-106).Obituary of the French playwright, M. Legouvé, 10 Mar 1903 (p. 105).Obituary of M. de Blowitz, Paris Correspondent of the
Times, 19 Jan 1903 (p. 196).
Includes handwritten list of contents and index at the front of the volume.
CEM/1/1/1/17
Press cuttings book
1903-1904
GC14349.
II A, 17.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 14 Jul 1903-28 Apr 1904 (pp. 1-132; 149-50).Book reviews, Oct 1903-Apr 1904 (pp. 132-39).Dramatic reviews, Aug 1903-Apr 1904 (pp. 140-48).
Includes index at front of volume.
CEM/1/1/1/18
Press cuttings book
1904-1905
GC14339.
II A, 18.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 3 May 1904-30 Dec 1905 (pp. 1-171).Obituary of Mrs C.P. Scott, Nov 1905 (pp.171-2).Book reviews, Jul 1904-Nov 1905 and some undated (pp.173-9; 194-203).Dramatic reviews, Sep 1904- Nov 1905 (pp. 177; 182-5; 187-93).Art reviews, Feb-Mar 1905 (pp. 180-82).Correspondent's report, `Something like a Wreck', 2 Jan 1905 (p. 186): Rose Elton noted that this description of a wreck on Burbo Bank in Wirral was expanded to form a scene in the novel
A Hind Let Loose.
Loose material consists of a postcard from moutaineer and historian, William Coolidge, written in response to a book review; this was pinned to page 198.
Includes handwritten index.
CEM/1/1/1/19
Press cuttings book
1906-1908
GC14343.
II A, 19.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Condition: Much of the binding from the spine is missing and the remainder is attached with sellotape; pp. 25-54 and 169-70 have become detached.
Leaders, 3 Jan 1906-30 Dec 1908 (pp. 1-149; 171-4; `B' section of index, continued from p. 174).Obituary of Julia Gaskell, the youngest daughter of Elizabeth, 26 Oct 1908 (p.149).Dramatic reviews, Feb 1906-Dec 1908, including reviews of the first performances by Annie Horniman's company at the Gaiety Theatre (pp.150-70).Book reviews, Apr 1906-Nov 1908 (pp. 175-8; 186-203).Art reviews, Jan 1907-Feb 1908 (pp. 179- 86).Article on the new galleries of the Whitworth Institute in Manchester to be opened on 29 Jul 1908, dated 28 Jul 1908 (p. 176).
Loose material (4 items) consists of: a letter dated 21 Jun [1907] from Rollo Ogden of the New York
Evening Post in response to a leading article in the Guardian, inserted at p. 77; 2 loose theatre reviews from p. 169; part of a book review which has become detached from p. 174.
This volume is the first to contain reviews signed with the writer's initials in contrast to the earlier policy of anonymity.
CEM/1/1/1/20
Press cuttings book
1909-1911
GC14283.
II A, 20.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Condition: loose binding on spine, held by sellotape.
Leaders, 1 Jan 1909-31 Jul 1911 (pp. 1-149; 165-87; 202- 3).Dramatic reviews, Feb 1909-May 1911 (pp. 150-64).Obituary of the Polish actress Mme. Modjeska, 9 Apr 1909 (p. 201).Obituary of the scene-painter Hawes Craven, 27 Jul 1910 (p.159).Book reviews, Jan 1909-May 1911 (pp. 188-202)
Loose material (4 items) consists of sections of cuttings which have become detached: (1) from p. 26; (2) from p.32; (3) from p. 36; (4) from p.38.
CEM/1/1/1/21
Press cuttings book
1911-1914
GC14280.
II A, 21.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 1 Aug 1911-30 Apr 1914 (pp. 1-169).Dramatic reviews, Aug 1911-Apr 1914 (pp. 75; 169-83).Reviews of the
Manchester Playgoer, Mar and Nov 1913 (pp. 180 and 182).Book reviews, Aug 1911-Apr 1914 (pp. 183-200; 202).Obituary of Margaret Gaskell, daughter of Elizabeth, 27 Oct 1913 (p. 200). Obituary of the mountaineer and author, Edward Whymper, 18 Sep 1911 (pp. 200-201).
CEM/1/1/1/22
Press cuttings book
1914; 1919-20
GC14348.
II A, 22.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Leaders, 1 May-Dec 1914 (pp. 1-50); 14 Jan 1919-27 Feb 1920 (pp. 50-99; 107-25; 131-39; 143-50; 151-53).Book reviews, May and Oct 1914; Jan 1919-Feb 1920 (pp. 106-7; 130; 139-43; 150).Dramatic reviews, Sep-Nov 1914; Jun 1919-Feb 1920 (pp. 99; 126-30).Series of 8 weekly articles by `An Ordinary Man', 7 Nov- 26 Dec 1914 (pp. 100-105).`The non-combatant: what can he do?' - advice to those staying at home during the war, 7 Aug 1914 (p. 151).Correspondent's report on `Switzerland in Wartime', 18 Sep 1914 (p. 151).Articles:
- `The War and Language', 22 Feb 1919 (p. 105-6).
- `The Germans and Shakespeare', 8 March 1919 (p. 106).
Loose material (2 pieces) consists of a cutting of an article on Shakespeare.
CEM/1/1/1/23
Press cuttings book
1920-1921
GC14347.
II A, 23.
Softback volume, originally an auction catalogue into which cuttings have been pasted,
26.5 x 41.5 cms.
Leaders, 2 March 1920-23 Jul 1921. Includes letter attached to first page in response to the leader of 3 March 1920 on the mountaineer, Hermann Woolley. Book reviews, Apr 1920-May 1921, including various long reviews of books about the war. Rose Elton noted that the descriptive passage in the review of Major General Sir F. Maurice's
The End of the War formed raw material for Disenchantment (1922).Dramatic reviews, Aug 1920-Jun 1921, including a report on Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson's lecture on Shakespeare at the Theatre Royal in Manchester, 18 Feb 1921.Article: `The Fifth Army Controversy', attributed to `a correspondent' with special experience of the war, 10 Sep 1920.Obituary note on Arthur Sidgwick of Oxford University by `a correspondent', 28 Sep 1920.Series of signed articles on the war, containing material later used in Disenchantment:
- `Battlefields seen from the train', 3 Apr 1920.
- `A Foch legend', 24 Jul 1920.
- `Etiquette in war', 10 Sep 1920.
- `The passport nuisance', 17 Sep 1920.
- `The great illusion', 2 Oct 1920.
- `How disillusion began', 8 Oct 1920.
- `Agincourt and Ypres', 15 Jan 1921.
- `The business man-at-arms', 27 Jan 1921.
- `Hotspur and the brass hat', 29 Jan 1921.
- `The wisdom of the lowly', 12 Feb 1921.
- `'Ware pipers in Thessaly', 26 Mar 1921.
- `The autumn of the war', 21 May 1921.
- `A change of fashion', 4 Jun 1921.
- `The Sceptic's progress', n.d.
- `Diluting an army', 23 Jul 1925 [possibly a mistake or 1921].
Article written for the
Observer, entitled `The Manchester Guardian', by `One of It', referring to the forthcoming centenary of the Guardian, 1 May 1921.
Loose material (2 pieces): an article entitled `The unpopularity of progress' published in
The New Statesman, 8 Jan 1921, written in response to the Guardian leader of 31 Dec 1920, on `The future of the body'.
CEM/1/1/1/24
Press cuttings book
1921-1923
GC14279.
II A, 24.
Hardback volume; adapted auction catalogue
25 x 38 cms.
Leaders, 25 Jul 1921-22 Sep 1923.Dramatic reviews, Dec 1921- Sep 1923.Book reviews, Aug 1921-Nov 1923 (plus some undated), including reviews on various war memoirs and histories.Articles:
- `The army chaplain', 20 Aug, 1921.
- `The sheep that were not fed', 27 Aug, 1921.
- `A medical board', 22 Oct 1921.
- `The nuisance of cause and effect', 12 Nov 1921.
- `Why the French love Molière', 17 Dec 1921.
- `The happy mountain rambler', 14 Jan 1922.
- `A reminiscence of Lord Bryce', 24 Jan 1922.
- `Writing to please', 11 Mar 1922.
- `To mind or not to mind', 22 Apr 1922.
- `Open-eyed travel', 5 Aug 1922.
- `No Alps this year', 26 Aug 1922.
- `Peace-makers at Ouchy', 25 Nov 1922.
- `A good look at England', 3 Mar 1923.
- `Aromatists', [19?] Feb 1923.
Obituary of Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, assassinated by 2 members of Sinn Fein on 22 Jun 1922, incomplete and undated.
Letters written in response to `The happy mountain rambler' and `A reminiscence of Lord Bryce' are pasted in beside the articles.
The article `A night watch', 31 Jan 1922, has a pencil note attributing it to F.A. Montague, son of CEM.
Loose material (10 items): 1 loose book review; 9 large cuttings containing photographs with captions written by Montague for the series `The Western Battlefields Revisited', dated 18, 20, 26, 28 July and 1, 4, 7 August 1922.
CEM/1/1/1/25
Press cuttings book
1923-1928
GC14278.
II A, 25.
Hardback volume,
25 x 37 cms.
Condition: loose binding on spine of volume.
This volume includes material written by CEM both before and after his retirement from the
Guardian at the end of 1925.
Leaders, 26 Sep 1923-24 Dec 1925 (index pages and pp. 1-167). A letter from Stanley Baldwin in response to the leader `Not for publication' of 20 May 1924 is pasted in at p. 33.Dramatic reviews, Sep 1923-Oct 1925 and Jul 1927, including reviews of 3 visits by a French company to the Prince's Theatre in Dec 1923, Dec 1924 and Oct 1925 (pp. 176-7; 179-81; 183; 186-98; 200). Letters of thanks from 2 of the French actors (written in French) are pasted in: from Pierre Fresnay (p. 180 and 197) and from Denis d'Ines (p. 181).Book reviews, Nov 1923-Aug 1925 (pp. 177-9; 183; 185-6; 190-95; 198-201). Articles:
- `A woolly-minded despot', 4 Oct 1924 (p. 190).
- `A vindication: Smith-Dorrien and French: the Le Cateau Epic', 2 Apr 1925 (p. 184).
- `Two Ways of Writing', Manchester Guardian Weekly, 7 Aug 1925 (p. 182).
- `The art of omission', Manchester Guardian Weekly, 14 Aug 1925 (p. 182).
- `What do sculptors try for?' 28 Nov 1925 (p. 159).
- `Meredith: an appreciation', 11 Feb 1928 (p. 185).
Also an announcement, written by C.P. Scott, of CEM's forthcoming retirement: `Retirement of a great journalist', 23 Jul 1925 (p. 124).
Loose material (3 items) comprises: (1) a letter dated 3 Feb 1925 from J.A. Steuart in response to CEM's review of his biography of Robert Louis Stevenson, inserted at p. 191; (2) cutting from the
Manchester Guardian Weekly: report of the Guardian's farewell dinner held for CEM at the Manchester Reform Club, 25 Dec 1925, inserted at p. 164. (3) cutting of the article `Meredith: an appreciation', marking the centenary of his birth, 12 Feb 1925. The text is the same as the article on p. 185 listed above, although the column layout is different, possibly from a different publication.
CEM/1/1/2
Previously unlisted Manchester Guardian press cuttings books
1874-1901
3 items.
These volumes are not included in the original list compiled by Rose Elton, but the cuttings in them do appear to come from the
Guardian, and, in the case of CEM/1/1/2/2 and /3, they also appear to be written by CEM. Due to the paper's policy of anonymity none of the cuttings in CEM/1/1/2/1 are signed so it is unclear which, if any, are by Montague. Those dating from before 1890 (the year in which CEM joined the staff) are obviously by other writers. It was customary for various different contributors to review the books, so this volume may include the work of a number of different writers.
CEM/1/1/2/1
Press cuttings book
1874-1897
GC14285.
Hardback volume,
28 x 37 cms.
Condition: 2 loose leaves.
Book reviews, Oct 1874-Oct 1897; 2 of these, from 1896, are noted as written by Mrs C.P. Scott [Rachel].1 dramatic review, n.d.Articles on foreign affairs:
- Series on `the Slavs in Turkey', Aug 1876.
- Series on `Greece of to-day', Aug 1880.
Series of articles and reports on affairs local to Manchester, including education and School Board elections, Mar 1891-Feb 1896, and the Union of Women's Liberal Associations, Apr 1893-Apr 1896 (both areas in which Rachel Scott played a prominent role).
Loose material (6 items): 3 loose cuttings; 1 pamphlet guide to the pictures at the Royal Jubilee Exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery, 1887; 2 leaflets: a statement to the electors of the Manchester School Board by Rachel Scott, 19 Oct 1894, and a reprint from the
Guardian of a report on the annual meeting of the Manchester and Salford District Education Association, 14 Dec 1895.
CEM/1/1/2/2
Press cuttings book
1897-1901
GC14286.
Hardback volume,
28 x 38 cms.
Book reviews, Oct 1897-Dec 1901; 2 of these are handwritten by CEM. Articles and reports on the Union of Women's Liberal Associations, including speeches by Rachel Scott condemning the Boer War and the South African concentration camps, Jan-Oct 1901 and some undated. Also an article from the
Staffordshire Sentinel on Mrs Scott, Nov 1901.
Loose material (2 items): 1 cutting; 1 leaflet: a statement by Rachel Scott to the Lancashire and Cheshire union of the Women's Liberal Associations about the government Education Bill, 5 Jun 1901.
CEM/1/1/2/3
Press cuttings book
1898
GC14284.
Hardback volume,
25 x 30 cms.
Book reviews, Nov-Dec 1898 and various undated, (pp. 2-5); the remainder of the book is blank.
13 loose cuttings.
CEM/1/1/3
C.E. Montague's contributions to other publications
1886-1890; 1916; 1927
3 items.
This sub-series contains cuttings of miscellaneous journalistic pieces written by CEM for publications largely other than the
Manchester Guardian although some Guardian articles do appear in CEM/1/1/2/2 (the bundle of official war articles put together by Rose Elton). CEM/1/1/2/1 also contains a small number of cuttings by other writers reviewing work by CEM.
CEM/1/1/3/1
Press cuttings book
1886-1890
GC14317.
II B, 2.
Hardback volume,
21 x 27cms.
Condition: 1 leaf has become detached from the volume.
Contributions by CEM to the
Oxford Magazine: largely skits and parodies written whilst an undergraduate, 3 Nov 1886-2 Nov 1887.
Article by CEM: `The Halfway Mill', published in the
Illustrated London News, [15 Mar 1890].
Reviews by other writers of the
Oxford Magazine 's `Echoes' and `More Echoes' (to which CEM contributed) in:
-
Athenæum, n.d.
-
Daily News, n.d.
-
Saturday Review, 1 Feb 1890.
Loose material (1 item): review of `More Echoes' by `A.T.Q.C.' [Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch] in
The Speaker, 5 Dec 1896.
CEM/1/1/3/2
Bundle
Aug-Dec 1916
GC14297.
II B, 7.
10 pieces.
Official war articles by CEM:
- 1. `The big push area', Daily Express, 15 Aug.
- 2. `The road to Bapaume', Morning Post, 15 Aug.
- 3. `Underground villages', Manchester Guardian , 4 Sep.
- 4. `German trenches on the Western Front', Daily Telegraph, 4 Sep.
- 5. `The Front Line', Morning [Post], 11 Sep.
- 6. `Honours shared on the Somme', Daily Mail , 21 Sep.
- 7. `The Somme battle achievement', unnamed publication, 18 Oct.
- 8. `New positions of the British army', Daily Telegraph, 18 Oct.
- 9. `The Somme offensive', Morning Post, 18 Oct.
- 10. `Entente God's Acre', Daily Mail, 28 Oct.
CEM/1/1/3/3
Press cutting
15 Apr 1927
GC14330.
II B, 8 (a).
1 sheet.
`It takes all sorts to make a world': article by CEM about the radio and the English language, published in the
Radio Times in response to Sir Israel Gollancz's article of 4 March in the same publication.
CEM/1/1/4
Miscellaneous cuttings by other writers
1881-1901; 1953
5 items.
This sub-series contains press cuttings of reports, articles and reviews by writers other than CEM, which appeared in various publications and were probably collected together by CEM.
CEM/1/1/4/1
Press cuttings book
26 Nov 1881-25 Jan 1887
GC14315.
II B, 2.
Hardback volume,
18 x 25 cms.
Condition: the back cover has become detached and the binding on the spine of the volume is loose and held with sellotape. Two parts of p. 31 which had been cut out have been placed in an envelope at the front of the volume.
Dramatic reviews by W.T. Arnold in the
Manchester Guardian , presented to Montague by Arnold.
The volume includes an index at the front and has been signed by both W.T. Arnold and CEM.
CEM/1/1/4/2
Press cuttings
Jan 1898
2 pieces.
2 small cuttings making brief reference to the
Manchester Guardian taken from the Sun (19 Jan) and the Sketch (12 Jan).
CEM/1/1/4/3
Press cuttings book
Feb 1896-Aug 1901
GC14281.
II B, 3.
Hardback volume, 25 x 37 cms, and 3 envelopes.
Cuttings about the Boer War from newspapers other than the
Guardian, both from Britain and abroad. Includes leaders, articles, letters and cartoons which reflect developments as they occurred, as well as conflicting attitudes and heated debates over all aspects of the war. A small number of the cuttings do seem to have come from the Guardian, but these consist of responses and comments on the treatment of the subject by other papers.
The volume includes some notes written by Montague, and at p. 47 a handwritten letter has been pasted in, addressed to the
Guardian and condemning C.P. Scott's stance over the war; the Guardian's opposition to the war and subsequent support for the Boers made the paper, and Scott himself, extremely unpopular.
There is a large amount of loose material (73 items) which comprises: 49 further press cuttings from various newspapers relating to the Boer War; 23 pages of manuscript notes by CEM on the treatment of the war by other newspapers, including transcripts of letters and articles from other papers; a complete issue of the
Morning Post, 20 Feb 1901, open at the page reporting news on the war.
CEM/1/1/4/4
Bundle
May 1900-Mar 1901
GC14287.
II B, 4.
7 pieces.
Cuttings of reviews of
The Manchester Stage, 1880-1900 (1900), the volume of dramatic reviews reprinted from the Guardian and written by CEM, W.T. Arnold, Allan Monkhouse and Oliver Elton, printed in:
- /1 Manchester Guardian (galley proof), n.d.
- /2 Publishers' Circular, 26 May 1900.
- /3 Manchester Courier, 30 May 1900.
- /4 Spectator, 2 Jun 1900.
- /5 Athenæum, 30 Jun 1900.
- /6 Oxford Magazine, 13 Feb 1901.
- /7 Literature, 23 Mar 1901.
CEM/1/1/4/5
Press cutting
4 Jan 1953
GC14330.
II B, 8 (b).
1 piece.
Scope and content
`Lyric Lyric', by Harold Hobson printed in the
Sunday Times, 4 Jan 1953: a review of Richard II directed by John Gielgud at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, in which Hobson discusses CEM's analysis of the principal role as outlined in his review of Frank Benson in the part in Dec 1899 (see CEM/1/1/1/14), and its influence on subsequent actors in the part. This item was obviously added to the collection after CEM's death.
CEM/1/2
Correspondence
1890-1897; 1925-1926.
3 items
Scope and content
This series contains correspondence relating to CEM's journalistic career, and illustrates various day to day aspects of his work during the first 7 years he spent at the
Guardian, as well as the widespread respect in which his journalism was held at the time of his retirement.
CEM/1/2/1
Bundle
7 Mar 1890-31 Dec 1897
GC14329.
III, 1.
26 pieces.
Letters and notes to CEM relating to his work at the
Manchester Guardian. All but one are from C.P.Scott, and cover topics such as: an offer of formal appointment as a member of staff at a salary of £300, with subsequent increases to reach £900 in 1896; Irish politics and CEM's was work in Ireland as a special correspondent in Dec 1890; notes concerning day to day work on the newspaper; and praise for CEM's work, reflecting the respect and affection felt by C.P. Scott for CEM. CEM/1/2/1/16 is a letter dated 7 Feb 1896 from J.E. Taylor, the proprietor of the Manchester Guardian, writing from Biarritz [France], and describing a conversation he had with Gladstone, in which the ex-Liberal Prime Minister praised CEM's leader on President Cleveland's manifesto and the Venezuelan crisis of Dec 1895 (see CEM/1/1/1/10). This letter is referred to by Scott in subsequent letters (CEM/1/2/1/17, /18 and /19).
CEM/1/2/1/4 includes a ticket to a meeting of the Nationalists of Dublin, at which C.S. Parnell was to be present, on 10 Dec 1890.
Envelopes included in CEM/1/2/1/2, /4, /11, /16, /24 and /26.
CEM/1/2/2
Letter
4 Jun 1890
1 sheet.
From John Ward, who edited
A Selection from the Liber Studiorum of J.M.W Turner (1890). The letter is addressed to C.P. Scott but refers to an art critique which appeared in the Guardian, possibly written by CEM. Ward praises the critic involved and offers thanks for the article, both on his own behalf and that of Frank Short (who wrote notes for the above volume). He mentions J.E. Taylor's collection: the proprietor of the Guardian was a great art collector, and among his collection were many Turner watercolours. Ward also refers to his own "book", possibly the above volume.
This letter does not appear in the original list compiled by Rose Elton.
Dated at: Llandudno [Carnarvonshire].
The printed address on the notepaper (Lenoxvale, Belfast) has been crossed out and replaced with the George Hotel, Llandudno.
CEM/1/2/3
Bundle
21 Dec 1925-4 Jan 1926
GC14332.
III, 3.
14 pieces; all letters consist of 1 sheet apart from CEM/1/2/3/7 which has 3 sheets.
Letters and 1 telegram to CEM on the occasion of his retirement from the
Guardian in Dec 1925 from various friends, acquaintances and colleagues, including: Hamilton Fyfe, the editor of the Daily Herald; Frank J. Fay, Irish actor associated with the repertory movement from its earliest days; J.R. Clynes, the prominent Labour MP; J.L. Hammond, historian and Guardian correspondent; and James Agate, the dramatic critic. Many of the letters express regret at his leaving Manchester and the Guardian, admiration for all his work and the hope that he will spend his retirement writing more fictional works. J.L. Hammond (CEM/1/2/3/7) encloses a copy of a letter he wrote to C.P. Scott on 17 Dec 1925 intended to be read out at CEM's farewell dinner. The letter from Frank Fay (CEM/1/2/3/3) is primarily a Christmas greeting and does not specifically mention CEM's retirement.
CEM/2
Literary material
1883-1944; 1968
5 series.
Scope and content
This subgroup contains notes, manuscripts and typescripts, correspondence, publishers' accounts and reviews of CEM's essays and fictional works, thus illustrating many different stages in the writing and publication process.
CEM/2/1
Notes, manuscripts and typescripts.
1883-[1928]
21 sub-series.
Scope and content
This is a composite series containing background material, notes, manuscripts and typescripts of much of CEM's literary work.
A number of the manuscripts, particularly CEM/2/1/1, /3 and /5, include articles by CEM originally printed in the
Guardian, which have been pasted in, amended and expanded by hand to form the final published version of the work, thus reflecting the close links between CEM's journalistic and literary work.
All the manuscripts and corrections made to typescripts are in the hand of CEM.
Arrangement
It was decided not to divide the material into 3 separate series according to physical characteristics because the original papers had been sorted into bundles, each of which contained background material, notes, manuscripts, or typescripts relating to a particular literary work, possibly reflecting CEM's own arrangement of his papers. The material has therefore been divided into sub-series, each of which contains all the papers relating to a particular literary work, and has been listed under the title of the work to facilitate searching.
Few of the notes, manuscripts and typescripts are dated, and the chronological arrangement by date of publication as adopted by Mrs Elton has largley been retained. Material for which the date is hard to determine, such as unpublished fragments, are listed at the end.
CEM/2/1/1
Dramatic Values
n.d.
GC14335.
I, 3.
1 item,
441 sheets,
2 folders.
Condition: p. 398 is slightly torn.
Scope and content
Manuscript of the book, which was published in 1911. The final essay, `The Wholesome Play', is in typescript with handwritten corrections and additions.
CEM/2/1/2
Unfinished fragment [The Craft of Drama]
n.d.
GC14334.
I, 4.
5 items.
Scope and content
These papers consist of background material and the manuscript of an unfinished fragment which Rose Elton referred to as
The Craft of Drama, although this title is not evident in the papers. Mrs Elton also suggested that this was possibly a part of CEM's work on Dramatic Values (1911), and the material does consist of writing on drama in general, with particular reference to CEM's dramatic reviews.
CEM/2/1/2/1
Manuscript drafts and notes
n.d.
112 sheets.
An outline plan of the book and rough notes under various subject headings, with references to dramatic reviews and the date they appeared in the
Guardian; CEM obviously intended to include material from these reviews in this volume. Also a draft of the first chapter, `A Triple Task', as well as what is presumably the second chapter and possibly also some of the third. There are 3 further sheets of draft text, which have not been numbered by CEM as have the other drafts.
CEM/2/1/2/2
Notebook
n.d.
Softback exercise book,
19 x 23.5 cms.
Book containing manuscript notes on dialogue in various plays, forming background work for the manuscript drafts in CEM/2/1/2/1.
CEM/2/1/2/3
Notebook
n.d.
Hardback exercise book,
18 x 23 cms.
Further notes on plays, although most of the book has been left blank.
CEM/2/1/2/4
Press cuttings
1883-1905
11 pieces.
Cuttings of articles on drama and dramatic techniques from the
Journal des Débats and Le Temps.
In French.
CEM/2/1/2/5
Periodical
Mar 1909
Softback volume,
17.5 x 24.5 cms.
A copy of
The North American Review 189, 3 (1909), which contains the article `Evolution of Dramatic Technique' by Archibald Henderson, pp. 428-44.
The volume has the `Manchester Guardian Library' stamp on the front cover.
CEM/2/1/3
Disenchantment
n.d.
2 items.
Scope and content
Manuscript and typescript relating to this volume of essays on World War I, first published in 1922 and again in 1968.
CEM/2/1/3/1
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14337.
I, 5.
312 sheets,
2 folders.
Disenchantment. This manuscript includes before the main text, `A Prefatory Note on War Books', which did not appear in the published version of the book. There are other minor differences from the published work, and in some cases text is omitted and reference made to a journalistic article which is to be inserted, although only in one case is the article actually included: sheets 141 and 142 consist of a proof copy of an article, `Would truth or lies cost more?' published in The Nineteenth Century, June 1921. Sheet 261 is a typescript version of part of the manuscript from section IV of chapter XIV (`Our Moderate Satanists').
Some text is missing between sheets 181-3 and 194-5 (from sections II and V of Chapter XI: `Stars in their Courses').
CEM/2/1/3/2
Typescript
n.d.
GC14304.
IV, 6.
3 sheets.
`A Prefatory Note on War Books'. This was added to the end of Rose Elton's original list.
CEM/2/1/4
Fiery Particles
[1923]
2 items.
Material relating to this volume of short stories, published in 1923.
CEM/2/1/4/1
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14320
I, 6.
522 sheets,
2 folders.
Condition: sheet 39 is torn at the top left hand corner.
Fiery Particles. The story published as `All for Peace and Quiet' appears in this manuscript as `A Pilgrim of Peace' and `Honours Easy' appears as `The Proper Person', although in the latter case the published title appears on the contents page and has been pencilled in on the story title page.
CEM/2/1/4/2
Manuscript
May 1923
GC14338.
I, 6.
15 sheets.
The Preface to the second American edition of
Fiery Particles, dated by CEM.
CEM/2/1/5
The Right Place
n.d.
GC14322.
I, 7.
4 items.
Scope and content
Bundle of background material and manuscript of the book, which was published in 1924, and showed a marked change of direction and mood from CEM's previous works. It consists of a series of travel and holiday essays written in a light-hearted vein, revealing CEM's love of travelling, landscape and the English countryside.
CEM/2/1/5/1
Manuscript
n.d.
458 sheets,
2 folders.
The Right Place.
CEM/2/1/5/2
Notes
[1904]
19 pieces.
Topographical notes made by CEM, possibly used as background material for
The Right Place, consisting of: general notes (including extracts from Manchester Guardian articles), information on the geology, geographical features, language and history largely of places on the Manchester-London route, and notes on the Manchester-London walk undertaken by Manchester Pedestrian Club in 1904; also a sketch of the route between Manchester and London.
CEM/2/1/5/3
Maps
[1904?]
3 pieces; drawn on copy paper.
3 hand-drawn and coloured maps showing: the route between Manchester and London and the surrounding counties; the same route with geological features; a detail of the route around the area of Barnet (Herts).
CEM/2/1/5/4
Press cuttings
[c.1901-1904]
14 pieces.
Cuttings (including 2 galley proofs) from the
Guardian and the Manchester Evening News , including general articles on travel, reviews of travel books, and reports on the progress of the Manchester- London walk in 1904.
CEM/2/1/6
A Hind Let Loose
n.d.
2 items.
Scope and content
Material relating to this `morality farce', first published as a novel in England in 1910, although the novel was a recasting of an earlier play.
CEM/2/1/6/1
Typescript
n.d.
GC14303.
II, 2.
34 pp. (2 sheets are marked as p.33).
Condition: in original folder, the cover of which has deteriorated and become torn around the edges.
A Hind Let Loose: A Comedy in Three Acts. The date is hard to determine: the play was originally written c.1900, and performed unsuccessfully in London in 1913, after the publication of the novel. Rose Elton also mentions a dramatisation made by David Higham and submitted to CEM in 1926, so it is unclear whether this is the original or a revised version.
CEM/2/1/6/2
Typescript
n.d.
GC14303.
II, 2.
32 pp; also in original folder.
Of the above.
CEM/2/1/6/3
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14291.
I, 1.
12 sheets.
The `Preface' to the American edition of the novel,
A Hind Let Loose which was published in 1924.
CEM/2/1/7
The Enjoyment of Tragedy
[Pre-1925]
GC14290.
I, 16.
3 items.
Scope and content
Material relating to this essay, which is possibly an earlier version of `Delights of Tragedy' which appears in
A Writer's Notes on his Trade (see CEM/2/1/14). The manuscript bears CEM's Manchester address so was presumably written before his retirement and move to Burford (Oxon).
CEM/2/1/7/1
Manuscript
[Pre-1925]
41 pp.
`The Enjoyment of Tragedy'.
CEM/2/1/7/2
Typescript
n.d.
15 sheets.
Similar, but not identical to the manuscript, and with extensive handwritten amendments.
Sheet 11 (CEM's p. 8) has been cut down to half-page size, and part of sheet 4 is also missing.
CEM/2/1/7/3
Manuscript
n.d.
6 sheets.
Summary of the essay.
CEM/2/1/8
A Note of Admiration
[Feb 1926]
GC14288.
I, 10.
4 items.
Scope and content
Material relating to `A Note of Admiration', the preface which CEM wrote for the third volume of James Agate's
The Contemporary Theatre, published in 1926.
CEM/2/1/8/1
Manuscript
[Feb 1926]
10 sheets.
`A Note of Admiration'. The title has been altered from the more prosaic `A Prefatory Note' to reflect CEM's respect for his ex-colleague's work.
CEM/2/1/8/2
Typescript
[1926]
8 sheets.
`A Note of Admiration', corrected by hand.
CEM/2/1/8/3
Typescript
[1926]
8 sheets.
Carbon copy of CEM/2/1/7/2, without the corrections.
CEM/2/1/8/4
Letters
Feb 1926
3 sheets.
3 letters concerning CEM's contribution to
The Contemporary Theatre : 1 from James Agate asking him to contribute (dated 1 Feb), and 2 from Arthur Waugh, the Managing Director of Chapman and Hall Ltd, who published the volume (dated 8 and 15 Feb).
CEM/2/1/9
Rough Justice
n.d.
GC14318.
I, 8.
4 items.
Notes, manuscripts and draft typescripts relating to the novel
Rough Justice, published in 1926 and again in 1969, a work reflecting many of CEM's preoccupations, such as conflicting attitudes towards the War, and the failings of the English education system which in his opinion was damaging to individuality and originality.
CEM/2/1/9/1
Manuscript
n.d.
54 sheets.
Including: the `Argument' of the book, giving a brief outline of the plot, in which the two main characters are referred to as `Dick and Joan', rather than `Auberon and Molly' as they were called in the published work; the title page and dedication (to Frederick Florence Montague, CEM's brother who died on 30 Oct 1925); complete manuscript version of Chapters XXVI and XXVII, the final 2 chapters of the novel.
CEM/2/1/9/2
Manuscript notes
n.d.
266 sheets,
2 folders.
Drafts of the `war chapters' of the novel (which comprise Books 6-8). These consist of rough drafts of work which obviously formed background material for the book (on the first sheet CEM has written `quarry only'). They are in no apparent order, and seem to be part of various different drafts; the hero is called alternately `Dick' and `Hugh'. The material is clearly based on CEM's own experiences in the War, particularly his time spent as an officer at GHQ escorting visitors to the Front; three sections are marked `war diary', so may have been adapted from CEM's own diary kept during his war service.
CEM/2/1/9/3
Typescript
n.d.
329 sheets;
2 folders.
Various typescript drafts, primarily of the war chapters of the book, although the first 12 sheets are drafts of earlier sections. The chapters do not correspond with those of the published version. They are broadly in order, however, although whole draft chapters and numerous pages are missing. Various pieces of text have been deleted by hand and handwritten notes have been added, primarily in the form of brief headings describing the subject matter of each section. The hero and heroine in these drafts are named `Dick and Joan', although odd pages from a later draft seem to be included, in which the hero is called `Auberon', as he is in the published version.
A small section of a galley proof of one of CEM's war articles for the
Guardian has been inserted between sheets 44 and 45.
The lower half of sheet 2 has been cut off, as have parts of sheets 111 and 327.
CEM/2/1/9/4
Notes
n.d.
137 sheets.
Rough manuscript (and 5 sheets of typescript) notes presumably used as background material for the book. The material consists of very rough drafts of material for various chapters; general notes on war matters and life at the Front; and a series of letters from a fictional private at the Front Line relating his experiences to his friend at home in England.
The material has been left in exactly the order it was found and presumably the order in which CEM left it, as some of the letters seem to have been taken out of sequence to form background material for specific chapters.
CEM/2/1/10
The Way It Happened
n.d.
GC14333.
I, 11.
2 items.
Scope and content
Manuscript and notes relating to this `melodrama in five acts' which was based on CEM's novel,
Right Off the Map , published in 1927. This novel, and the play, are based in an imaginary country at a slightly future time, and were strongly influenced by CEM's feelings about the Boer War and World War I. The novel itself had its origins in a play written in 1902, which had already been lost at the time Oliver Elton wrote his Memoir in 1929. Rose Elton in her list stated that The Way It Happened was based on the novel rather than the other way around, therefore this manuscript is not that of the original play.
CEM/2/1/10/1
Manuscript
n.d.
332 sheets,
2 folders.
The Way It Happened: A melodrama in five acts.
CEM/2/1/10/2
Notes
n.d.
11 sheets.
Rough manuscript notes for the play, including lists of characters and brief summaries of each Act.
CEM/2/1/11
Right Off the Map
n.d.
GC14319.
I, 12.
3 items.
Scope and content
Manuscript and typescript material relating to
Right Off the Map: A play in five acts which is based on the novel of the same name.
CEM/2/1/11/1
Manuscript
n.d.
221 sheets.
Of the play. Following a handwritten title page and list of characters, the first 2 Acts are typescript and consist of the first 2 Acts of
The Way It Happened, heavily annotated and revised by CEM. The main characters have different names, and many of the lengthy stage directions and a fair amount of the dialogue have been deleted, making the text substantially shorter than that of the earlier play. The remainder of the text is a completely new version of the play in manuscript.
CEM/2/1/11/2
Typescript
n.d.
125 sheets.
Of the play, incorporating all the amendments made to the text in the manuscript draft. Includes some handwritten corrections.
CEM/2/1/11/3
Manuscript draft
n.d.
292 sheets.
Described in Rose Elton's list as a narrative of the play, this incomplete manuscript draft is divided into 18 chapters, although the majority of chapter 3 appears to be missing, as are various other sections and pages, including the conclusion. The first chapter is very similar to the corresponding chapter in the novel,
Right Off the Map, although the rest of the text differs considerably. Various names of characters in this draft also differ both from the novel and the completed play, and the fictional country in which the play is set is called `Rio' in this text rather than the `Ria' of the other versions. References given in this manuscript to a typed version of the play do not correspond with the typescript CEM/2/1/10/2, so are obviously referring to a version which does not survive.
CEM/2/1/12
Action
n.d.
GC14327.
I, 14.
2 items.
Scope and content
Manuscript and 1 typescript chapter of
Action, the volume of short stories published posthumously in October 1928.
CEM/2/1/12/1
Manuscript
n.d.
617 sheets,
2 folders.
Including all the stories in the volume except the penultimate, `The Wisdom of Mrs Trevanna'.
Sheets 44 and 45 have suffered from small burns.
CEM/2/1/12/2
Typescript
[1928]
34 sheets.
`The Wisdom of Mrs Trevanna', with some handwritten corrections, and page 8 (now sheet 6) of the manuscript version inserted. Also a letter dated 27 Aug 1928 to Mrs Montague from Grace Chapman at
The London Mercury, returning this typescript version having made another copy incorporating the corrections marked here.
CEM/2/1/13
Inexpert Approaches to Religion
n.d.
GC14306.
I, 13.
3 items.
Manuscript and notes relating to this unfinished essay, published posthumously in Oliver Elton's
C.E. Montague: A Memoir (1929), pp. 293-319.
CEM/2/1/13/1
Manuscript
n.d.
97 sheets; pp. 26, 37 and 83-4 have been left blank for the insertion of quotations.
Of the unfinished essay. Also a letter to Mrs Montague from J.E. Mossey (private secretary to 3 editors of the
Manchester Guardian) who typed the manuscript for her. Pencil marks beside various undecipherable words referred to in this letter are visible in the manuscript.
CEM/2/1/13/2
Notes
n.d.
9 sheets.
Manuscript notes for the essay, including very rough jottings and quotations to be included in the text, from Rossetti, Kipling and a biography of J.A. Symonds.
CEM/2/1/14
A Writer's Notes on his Trade
1922-[1928]
GC14320.
I, 15.
2 items.
Scope and content
Manuscripts (and some typescripts) of all but one of the essays published posthumously under this title in 1930. A number of the essays carry CEM's address at Burford [Oxon] on the title page, indicating that they were probably written during his retirement. The essay not included is `The Literary Play', which was reprinted for the volume without revision from
Essays and Studies by Members of the English Association, II, 1911. `A Living Language', which is included here, was first published in Chatto and Windus's Miscellany, 1928.
CEM/2/1/14/1
Manuscript
1922; [1925 x 1928]
386 sheets,
2 folders.
All the essays in the volume. Including slightly different, additional copies of 2 of the essays: a later, revised and shortened version of `Three Ways of Saying Things', intended for a lecture at Burford in 1928, and an extra manuscript of `Doing Without Workmanship' which has no title page and which differs from the published version. Plus complete cuttings of a three- part essay, `Only Too Clear', which appeared in
The Nation and the Athenæum on 20 and 27 May, and 3 Jun 1922, on which the manuscript version of `Only Too Clear' is based. The title of the essay `Delights of Tragedy' has been changed from the original `The Enjoyment of Tragedy', and this essay also has a number of typescript pages which have been extensively amended by hand.
CEM/2/1/14/2
Typescripts
[1925 x 1928]
80 sheets.
Of 4 of the essays in the volume: 2 typescripts (1 is a carbon copy of the other) of the shorter version of `Three Ways of Saying Things', and 1 typescript of each of `Matthew Arnold', `Delights of Tragedy', and `The Last Question of All'. Apart from the carbon copy, the typescripts have all been corrected by hand.
CEM/2/1/15
The Politicians
[1928]
I, 17.
3 items.
Scope and content
Background note, drafts, manuscript and typescript sections of an unfinished novel,
The Politicians, set at the time of the Boer War, and apparently about a young man and woman who are each led to question their long-held and unthinking political beliefs.
CEM/2/1/15/1
Manuscript
1928
107 sheets. The sheets have been numbered by CEM; pp. 57A and 57B have been inserted between pp. 57 and 58.
First draft of chapters 1-3 and part of chapter 4. Originally placed in envelopes, the first of which noted that the draft was begun in May 1928.
CEM/2/1/15/2
Typescript
n.d.
47 sheets.
Of the above manuscript draft. Various words which are illegible in the manuscript have been omitted or guessed by the typist and bracketed in ballpoint pen. CEM obviously never saw this typescript which seems to have been made at a considerably later date than the manuscript.
CEM/2/1/15/3
Manuscript notes
n.d.
224 sheets.
Rough drafts and background notes for the novel, including a chronology of political movements and events covering 1880- 1914.
CEM/2/1/15/4
Notebook
n.d.
GC14326.
10 x 16 cms.
Small notebook containing a few notes for the novel, including a list of projected titles.
CEM/2/1/16
The Morning's War
n.d.
GC14323.
I, 18.
2 items.
Unfinished revised draft of this novel, which was originally published in 1913 and was CEM's first non-satirical novel.
CEM/2/1/16/1
Manuscript
n.d.
236 sheets.
Revised draft of the first 7 chapters of the novel.
CEM/2/1/16/2
Typescript
n.d.
122 sheets.
The revised 7 chapters, apparently made at a considerably later date; contains some corrections in ballpoint pen.
CEM/2/1/17
Diplomacy
n.d.
GC14302.
I, 19.
1 item,
52 sheets.
Manuscript of a possibly complete although unpublished short story about the cunning manipulation exercised over others by the main character, a boy named Jerome Jerren.
CEM/2/1/18
J. Jerome Jerren
n.d.
GC14336.
I, 21.
2 items.
Scope and content
Various incomplete drafts, possibly fragments of a novel with a hero of the same name as the above short story.
CEM/2/1/18/1
Manuscript drafts
n.d.
51 sheets.
From an envelope marked `J.J.J. old draft', these are apparently early notes and rough drafts of the novel.
CEM/2/1/18/2
Manuscript
n.d.
Each chapter is in its own paper cover. The original numbering is rather erratic in places, and a number of pages are missing, therefore every page of text inside each cover has been given a running number through from chapters 2 to 9, giving 215 pp. in total.
From 2 envelopes marked `J. Jerome Jerren', this manuscript consists of drafts of chapters 2-9 of the unfinished novel.
CEM/2/1/19
Mr Dooley
[c.1899-1902?]
GC14301.
I, 20.
4 items.
Scope and content
4 manuscript monologues spoken by `Mr Dooley' on Rosebery and the Boer War, which were probably never published. Rose Elton commented that they may have been written for private amusement, inspired by the American humourist P.F. Dunne's Mr Dooley. CEM/2/1/19/1 includes a small press cutting from the D[aily] M[ail] announcing a speech by Rosebery. The monologues are as follows:
- /1 `Mr Dooley on a Democratic Statesman' (23 pp).
- /2 `Mr Dooley on a speech by Lord Rosebery (10 pp).
- /3 `Mr Dooley on a Lover of his Country (27 pp).
- /4 Untitled [Mr Dooley on the Boer War] (5 pp).
CEM/2/1/20
Poems
n.d.
I, 22.
1 item,
6 sheets.
Scope and content
Manuscript of 2 poems which were printed in Oliver Elton's
C.E. Montague: A Memoir (1929):
- `Is this the end of all our ways' (p. 64).
- `Men scaling with taut finger-tips' (pp. 109-110).
Plus 1 sheet of rough working for one of the poems.
CEM/2/1/21
Manuscript drafts
n.d.
7 items.
Scope and content
Various manuscript drafts, a number of them unfinished, including a speech, stories, a poem and a possibly an unfinished early novel.
CEM/2/1/21/1
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14289.
I, 23.
5 sheets.
Of a speech seconding a resolution on classical studies, in which CEM emphasized his love of words and language.
CEM/2/1/21/2
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14289.
I, 23.
10 sheets.
Of a reply to Judge Parry's speech attacking dramatic critics, marked `not used' by CEM.
CEM/2/1/21/3
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14289.
I, 23.
1 sheet.
Very rough draft of 2 verses of an unfinished poem, `For all the beauty that I know'.
CEM/2/1/21/4
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14289.
I, 23.
9 sheets.
Of an unfinished story, `First Love', with a young hero, set in the 1880s in London.
CEM/2/1/21/5
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14289.
I, 23.
36 sheets.
Of an unfinished story, `In the Chiltern Hundreds', set in the fictional village of Peeslake and chronicling the petty disputes between two locals who are descendents of traditionally feuding families, bringing CEM's concerns with politics and diplomacy to a local level. Also included is a 5-page rough first draft of the story.
CEM/2/1/21/6
Manuscript
n.d.
GC14289.
I, 23.
16 sheets.
Various drafts of an unfinished essay, `The Writer as Sculptor', as well as some very rough background notes for the essay.
CEM/2/1/21/7
Manuscript
n.d.
39 sheets.
The first 5 chapters of what appears to be an unfinished novel,
Esther's Love, set in Scotland and telling the story of a young woman's coming of age and her growing understanding of herself. The manuscript appears to be of a considerably earlier date than those which survive for CEM's other novels, and it did not appear in Rose Elton's list of the collection.
CEM/2/1/21/8
Manuscript notes
[1914-1918]
BC14307.
IV, 1.
104 sheets.
Originally placed in an envelope marked `Anthology', this is a manuscript collection of verses and fragments of English, Latin, Greek and French poetry probably written down from memory by CEM. Rose Elton recollected being told that he made this collection of verse during World War I, and there are gaps and sections omitted where his memory failed him.
CEM/2/2
Correspondence
1910-1928
8 items.
Scope and content
This series consists of correspondence relating to CEM's literary career, including letters to CEM from various writers, critics, artists, and colleagues about his books and letters from his literary agents and publishers. Also included are 4 letters written by CEM.
All letters are handwritten unless stated otherwise.
Arrangement
All bundles of correspondence have been left in the original order in which they arrived at the library. The bundles have been listed in chronological order of their predominant dates. Thus CEM/2/2/5 and CEM/2/2/8 have been listed according to the date of the majority of the material, despite containing 1 or 2 pieces from a much earlier date.
CEM/2/2/1
Bundle
Mar-Jun 1910
GC14299.
III, 2.
3 pieces.
2 letters and 1 copy letter relating to
A Hind Let Loose (1910).
CEM/2/2/1/1
Letter
4 Mar 1910
1 sheet.
From Arnold Bennett. Topics discussed include: his anticipation of CEM's book of essays (probably
Dramatic Values ), his preference for the provinces over London, his Liberal sympathies and a forthcoming article in which he has praised A Hind Let Loose.
Brighton [Sussex].
CEM/2/2/1/2
Copy letter
25 Mar 1910
1 sheet.
To CEM's publishers, Methuen, from C.P. Ilbert, Clerk of the House of Commons, asking who CEM is and praising
A Hind Let Loose as "the cleverest thing I have come across for a long time".
The letter has been copied by CEM.
CEM/2/2/1/3
Letter
15 Jun 1910
1 sheet.
From O[liver] E[lton], praising
A Hind Let Loose . He encloses a press cutting reporting a speech he made at the University Club, Liverpool, on the death of King Edward [VII].
Liverpool.
CEM/2/2/2
Bundle
Feb-Jul 1922
GC14299.
III, 2.
9 pieces.
Letters and 1 postcard to CEM about
Disenchantment (1922).
CEM/2/2/2/1
Letter
18 Feb 1922
1 sheet.
From Arnold Bennett, thanking CEM for dedicating the book to him; complimenting him on the volume, although he considers the title to be misleading; and passing on his regards to the staff of the
Guardian.
Dated at: London.
Includes envelope.
CEM/2/2/2/2
Letter
20 Feb 1922
1 sheet.
From H.M. Tomlinson, novelist and literary editor of the
Nation. He expresses his delight at Disenchantment and refers to his own book, "the war one" (possibly the anti-war novel, All Our Yesterdays, published in 1930), as being in a fragmented and chaotic state.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/2/3
Postcard
21 Feb 1922
On which is written a short note from G[eorge] B[ernard] S[haw] referring to CEM's book, although the title is not mentioned. He claims it is exactly what his idea of a book is: "a document and a poem in one".
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/2/4
Letter
22 Mar 1922
1 sheet.
Condition: fragile paper which is slightly damaged where it has been folded.
From Henry W. Nevinson, essayist and journalist who had also been a war correspondent on the Western Front. He praises CEM's book and regrets that he was in America and therefore unable to review it, and claims it is a good antidote to the "next-war" spirit.
Dated at: London.
Typescript, with handwritten corrections.
CEM/2/2/2/5
Letter
31 Mar 1922
1 sheet.
From Frank Swinnerton, the novelist and literary critic, who is replying to an apparent suggestion by CEM that he should review Allan Monkhouse's new novel; he also congratulates CEM on his book. Swinnerton seems to have been involved in the production and `dressing' of the volume.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/2/6
Letter
13 Jun 1922
1 sheet.
From A[nnie] E[lizabeth] F[redericka] Horniman, thanking CEM for writing
Disenchantment.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/2/7
Letter
25 Jul 1922
2 sheets.
From Philip Gibbs, journalist, novelist and former war correspondent. He expresses his admiration for
Disenchantment and its balanced evaluation and judgement of the war, whilst regretting that he himself will forever be classed among the "liars", which is how history will view the war correspondents. He expresses his fears that peace will not endure in Europe, if bad relations continue between Germany and France, and France and England.
Dated at: Dorking [Surrey].
CEM/2/2/2/8
Letter
26 Jul 1922
1 sheet.
From Christopher Morley of the New York Evening Post, congratulating CEM on his "fine book" which he will continue to mention in his column.
Dated at: New York [USA].
CEM/2/2/2/9
Letter
n.d.
1 sheet.
From H.G. Wells, praising
Disenchantment, regretting that they have not met since 1916 (presumably when CEM escorted him to the Front Line), and asking CEM to come and visit.
Dated at: Dunmow [Essex].
CEM/2/2/3
Bundle
Feb-Mar 1923
GC14299.
III, 2.
10 pieces.
Letters to CEM about
Fiery Particles (1923).
CEM/2/2/3/1
Letter
2 Feb 1923
1 sheet.
From Maria Herford, wife of Professor C.H. Herford (Professor of English Literature at Manchester University, 1901-21), and mother of Siegfried Herford, an old friend of CEM's who was killed in the War and one of the book's 3 dedicatees. She expresses her own and her husband's appreciation at the honour done to "our boy" by CEM's dedication and praises `Another Temple Gone', the only story in the volume which she has read as yet.
Dated at: Manchester.
CEM/2/2/3/2
Letter
9 Feb 1923
1 sheet.
From F[rancis] D[odd], painter, and official artist to the Ministry of Information during World War I. He praises the book, refers mockingly to Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, and mentions the portraits he is currently engaged in painting.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/3/3
Letter
14 Feb 1923
1 sheet.
From Q (probably Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, writer and Professor of English Literature at Cambridge University, who used this pseudonym throughout his life). He does not refer directly to
Fiery Particles, but wonders if CEM ever met his son (who survived World War I but was killed on active service in 1919), and refers to the current situation in Europe.
Dated at: Cambridge.
CEM/2/2/3/4
Letter
23 Feb 1923
1 sheet.
From John Buchan, author and later governor-general of Canada, who mentions that he is sending CEM a school book on the war prepared by himself and Henry Newbolt, and compliments CEM on both
Fiery Particles and Disenchantment.
Dated at: Oxford.
Typescript.
CEM/2/2/3/5
Letter
27 Feb [1923]
1 sheet.
From H[enry] W[oodd] N[evinson], who praises CEM's volume with great enthusiasm.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/3/6
Letter
1 Mar 1923
2 sheets.
From Gilbert Cannan, novelist, dramatist and journalist, who refers to a forthcoming volume of his own,
Seven Plays , praises the ways and attitudes of Americans in contrast to the European situation (having just returned from New York), and mentions Fiery Particles as a postscript.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/3/7
Letter
2 Mar 1923
3 sheets.
From O[liver] Elton, who intersperses his thoughts on CEM's book with various anecdotes and jokes.
Dated at: Liverpool.
CEM/2/2/3/8
Letter
3 Mar 1923
1 sheet.
From Spenser Wilkinson, professor of military history at Oxford who worked on the
Manchester Guardian before 1892. He congratulates CEM on his volume and offers to invite CEM's daughter, who is at Oxford, to tea.
Dated at: Oxford.
CEM/2/2/3/9
Letter
5 Mar 1923
1 sheet.
From E [H Lacon?] Watson, of the Authors' Club, in praise of
Fiery Particles and CEM's writing in general.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/3/10
Letter
10 Mar 1923
1 sheet.
From Edward Garnett, writer and publisher's reader, who was sent a copy of
Fiery Particles by CEM's publishers, Chatto and Windus. He reports that T.E. Laurence commented to him that the volume was the best of all war books, and goes on to discuss some of the individual stories.
Dated at: London.
CEM/2/2/4
Bundle
13 Apr 1923-14 May 1925
4 pieces,
6 sheets.
4 letters written by CEM to `Ratcliffe' who appears to be a friend based in America [possibly the journalist and lecturer, Samuel Kerkham Ratcliffe]. These letters were a later accession, additional to the main collection, and were donated by Mrs Elton in 1979. Topics covered include the publication and reception of CEM's work in the USA, American opinions on European affairs, and the activities of various mutual friends.
Dated at: Manchester.
CEM/2/2/5
Bundle
22 Nov 1912; 9 Sep 1925-15 May 1928
GC14296.
III, 4.
112 pieces,
129 sheets.
Typescript and some manuscript letters, primarily from CEM's literary agents in London, James B. Pinker & Sons. From early 1927, letters also come from the New York branch of the firm. Letters relating to American publications prior to this time come from Brandt and Brandt, obviously the agents used by CEM before J.B. Pinker & Sons opened their own branch in New York. The bulk of the letters are arranged in reverse chronological order, although some letters referring to specific topics seem to have been grouped together at the front of the bundle: pieces 1-3 consist of correspondence over the re-writing of
The Morning's War , 1926; pieces 4-10 relate to the dramatisation of the novel, A Hind Let Loose, and include 3 letters from David Higham who was preparing the dramatisation, 1926; pieces 11-15 relate to the dramatised version of the novel, Right Off the Map, 1927-8. The rest of the letters are concerned with the sale of stories, negotiations with publishers, and the payment of royalties. CEM seems to have been interested in the possibility of some of his books being made into films, although seems to have come of this. Piece 80 includes a draft of a letter written by CEM and sent to J.B. Pinker & Sons regarding royalty payments (13 Nov 1926) and piece 112 includes a specimen draft Memorandum of Agreement used by J.B. Pinker for all their clients and sent for CEM's approval (22 Nov 1912).
CEM/2/2/6
Bundle
30 Sep 1925-27 Oct 1927
GC14293.
III, 7.
14 pieces,
18 sheets.
Typescript (and 2 manuscript) letters to CEM from his American publishers, Doubleday, Page & Co. in New York. The letters are primarily concerned with the publication of short stories and the novels
Rough Justice and Right Off the Map. The letter of 22 Sep 1927 (piece 3) includes an announcement of the consolidation of the publishing houses Doubleday, Page & Co, and George H. Doran Co., to form Doubleday, Doran & Co., (conducting business in England as William Heinemann Ltd).
CEM/2/2/7
Bundle
27 Nov 1925-8 Mar 1928
GC14292.
III, 6.
29 pieces.
Typescript letters from CEM's London publishers, Chatto and Windus, primarily about the publication of
Rough Justice and Right Off the Map, including regular reports on the sales figures for the books. Reference is also made to a book about the craft of writing on which CEM was working during the course of 1927, and which ultimately appeared posthumously as A Writer's Notes on his Trade. Also includes 2 letters from Martha Harris and Rayner Ellis who were doing publicity work for Rough Justice and 1 letter from Literary News who were responsible for the editorial publicity for Right Off the Map.
CEM/2/2/8
Bundle
18 Nov 1920; 4 Jun 1925-21 May 1928
GC14295.
III, 9.
33 pieces,
37 sheets.
Typescript and manuscript letters from various publishers, editors of books and journals, and writers: requesting permission to reproduce quotes and entire short stories or essays; inviting CEM to contribute material to various publications, eg. a projected charitable work by leading authors and artists to benefit the British Legion and a possible history of the war for children; the BBC inquire whether CEM will be willing to read his work on air. There is also a letter from the playwright and novelist St John Ervine, who returns a manuscript to CEM (which is not included here, but was possibly the dramatised version of
A Hind Let Loose), saying that the play will not do in America because "all those extracts from newspaper articles are not dramatic".
CEM/2/3
Accounts
1920-1944
6 items.
Scope and content
This series consists of CEM's accounts with his literary agents and his various publishers. Those dating from after his death are in the name of his wife. The accounts give a good insight into sales figures for CEM's work, the amount of money he made from his publications, and in which journals and magazines his short stories and essays first appeared.
CEM/2/3/1
Bundle
Jun 1920-Nov 1927; Nov 1942
GC14295.
III, 8.
11 pieces.
Royalty statements from Methuen & Co, showing payments due to CEM for the following publications:
-
A Hind Let Loose
-
Dramatic Values
-
The Morning's War
CEM/2/3/2
Bundle
2 Mar 1923-15 Dec 1938
GC14294.
III, 5.
81 pieces.
Accounts with CEM's literary agents, James B. Pinker & Sons, showing cash received: from various publishers in Britain and America for royalties on books; for publication rights at home and abroad; and for the use of extracts in other publications. Money was received from the BBC on 26 Apr 1938 for a performance of `Two or Three Witnesses' (from
Fiery Particles), and from the Fox Film Corporation on 14 and 21 Nov 1928 for the world film rights in `Judith' (from Action).
CEM/2/3/3
Bundle
Mar 1925-Sep 1927; Jun 1940-Sep 1944
GC14292.
III, 6.
32 pieces.
Accounts with Chatto and Windus, including separate statements for each publication and general statements showing royalties for all CEM's books published by Chatto and Windus, namely:
-
Disenchantment
-
Fiery Particles
-
The Right Place
-
Rough Justice
-
Right Off the Map
-
Action and Other Stories
-
C.E. Montague: A Memoir by Oliver Elton
Also money due from permission to reprint and use extracts from CEM's works.
CEM/2/3/4
Account
1926
GC14295.
III, 8.
1 piece.
Royalty statement from the New York publishers, Brentano's, for sales of
Disenchantment over the period 31 Dec 1925 - 30 Jun 1926.
CEM/2/3/5
Bundle
Feb 1926-Jan 1928; Nov 1940-Nov 1942.
GC14295.
III, 7.
21 pieces.
Royalty statements from American publishers Doubleday Page (Doubleday Doran from Jan 1928), showing payments due on:
-
Dramatic Values
-
Fiery Particles
-
The Right Place
-
A Hind Let Loose
-
Rough Justice
-
Disenchantment
-
Right Off the Map
-
Action and Other Stories
-
A Writer's Notes on his Trade
CEM/2/3/6
Accounts
1941
GC14295.
III, 8.
2 pieces.
Royalty accounts dated 23 May and 26 Sep from Penguin Books Ltd for sales of
Right Off the Map during the period 1 Jul 1940 - 30 Jun 1941.
CEM/2/4
Press cuttings
1910-1931; 1968
5 items.
Scope and content
This series consists of reviews of CEM's literary works and productions of his plays which appeared in various publications, as well as published articles about CEM as a writer.
CEM/2/4/1
Bundle
3 Mar 1910-Dec 1919.
GC14298.
II B, 5.
8 pieces.
Reviews of the novel
A Hind Let Loose, including 1 review by Arnold Bennett from the Manchester Guardian and a letter from Jesse Lee Bennett in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, enclosing a review of The Morning's War and A Hind Let Loose written by Bennett for the Baltimore Evening Sun.
CEM/2/4/2
Bundle
23-30 Apr 1913
GC14298.
II B, 5.
13 pieces.
Reviews of the play
A Hind Let Loose, produced at the Cosmopolis Theatre in London by the `Theatre in Eyre' in Apr 1913. The play was not a success and the reviews are generally unfavourable.
CEM/2/4/3
Bundle
16-18 Feb 1922; 20 Aug 1968.
GC14298.
II B, 5.
3 pieces.
3 reviews of
Disenchantment (mistakenly called Disenchanted in the Nation and Athenæum, 18 Feb 1922). The cutting from 1968 was possibly added by Rose Elton and refers to the re-issue of the book in that year.
CEM/2/4/4
Bundle
Aug 1922-Jun 1927
GC14300.
II B, 6.
3 pieces.
3 articles about CEM as a writer:
- /1 H.M. Tomlinson, `C.E. Montague', Christian Science Monitor (Boston, 2 Aug 1922).
- /2 Allan Monkhouse, `C.E. Montague', in the `Bookman's Notes' section of the Manchester Guardian Weekly, 12 Nov 1926.
- /3 Unsigned article, `Personalities and Powers: C.E. Montague', Time and Tide, 10 Jun 1927.
CEM/2/4/5
Bundle
31 Jan -Apr 1931
GC14298.
II B, 5.
10 pieces.
Notices and reviews of the play,
A Hind Let Loose, produced at the People's Theatre in Newcastle in Feb 1931, which seems to have been considerably more successful than the pre-war production. Also includes a programme for the play.
CEM/3
Miscellaneous and related material
1899-[1979]
8 items.
Scope and content
This subgroup consists of items which do not fit easily into the main categories of the list for various reasons and includes: material of a more general nature, material not created by or directly relating to CEM, and items which were not part of the original collection.
CEM/3/1
Manuscript notes and press cuttings
c.1899-1924
GC14331.
I, 9.
228 pieces.
Bundle containing very rough manuscript notes, largely on the theme of politics, the Boer War, World War I and war in general; including quotes, possible drafts for essays and articles and background material for stories, an account of CEM's experiences when enlisting for the war, his opinions on war decorations, and various other rough notes. Some of the notes may be linked to those in CEM/2/1/9/4, which form background material for
Rough Justice. Also included are some press cuttings of CEM's work, eg. book reviews (largely war books) and war articles, and a printed pamphlet: `Shootings at Dawn: the Army Death Penalty at Work' by Ernest Thurtle, M.P (n.d.) sent by the printers "for favour of review".
The notes appear to be in quite random order, but have been left as they were found and each piece given a running number.
CEM/3/2
Volume
1917
The issues have not been bound together, but are held withina hardback cover,
22.5 x 30.5 cms.
Muirhead Bone,
The Western Front, Vol 1 (Parts I-X) published in serial form, 1916-17. This volume consists of drawings of scenes from the Western Front by the artist, Muirhead Bone. The initial introduction in Part I is written by Sir Douglas Haig, but the rest of the text (prefaces and captions which accompany the pictures) is by CEM. This volume was not part of the original collection but was added after the merger of the University Library and John Rylands Library, being a duplicate copy.
In German, French and English.
CEM/3/3
Bundle
Jul-Nov 1918
GC14328.
IV, 5.
7 pieces.
Material presumably collected by CEM while stationed in France during the First World War, including: 2 German playbills for the Deutsches Theater in Lille, produced during the occupation, Jul 1918; a copy of
Le Progrès du Nord , the first French newspaper to appear in Lille after the departure of the Germans, 28 Oct 1918; a programme for the official opening under Allied auspices of the Nouveau Théatre in Lille by The Gaieties, army entertainers, Nov 1918 and of a concert given there by the `Cordites'; last issue of the newspaper La Libre Belgique, 12 Nov 1918; programme of the triumphal entry into Brussels of the Belgian King Albert, 22 Nov 1918.
CEM/3/4
Bundle
1-18 Sep 1920
GC14325.
IV, 4.
21 pieces.
News bulletins issued by the
Manchester Guardian during a printers' strike. The bulletin for 2 Sep is missing and there is no issue for 5 or 12 Sep (Sundays). Both 1 Sep issues are missing page 3 and the 11 Sep bulletin is missing page 4. There are 2 copies of each of the the bulletins from 1, 3, 7-9 and 18 Sep.
CEM/3/5
Manuscript notes
[1926]
GC14305.
IV, 2.
11 sheets.
For CEM's speech of thanks on accepting his honorary Litt.D from the University of Manchester in 1926.
CEM/3/6
Typescript
Nov 1930
GC14324.
IV, 3.
76 pp. (2 sheets are marked as p.45).
Condition: the title page is torn on the left edge.
A Study of C.E. Montague, a thesis presented by Louis Tillier of 143 Rue Solférino, Lille, France, to the Facultédes Lettres de Lille towards obtaining the qualification of Diplôme d'Etudes Supèrieures. Corrected by hand.
In English.
CEM/3/7
Copy print
n.d.
Black & white mounted print,
13 x 18.5 cms.
CEM in later life, taken from an original photograph by Lafayette of Manchester. This does not appear in the original list.
CEM/3/8
Typescript list
[1979]
GC14321.
155 sheets.
Original version of the list reproduced at the end of this catalogue showing leading articles by CEM which appeared in the
Manchester Guardian, 22 Mar 1890-31 Mar 1928. The list is in 2 sections: the articles are listed by subject up to 22 May 1908 and thereafter by the title of the leader. This list was produced in the 1970s by the University of Manchester, but it also has an original accession number and is noted as having been presented by Mrs Rose Elton, so presumably arrived with the rest of the collection.