Elizabeth Jennings, 1926-2001. British author

Links

Finding-Aid for the Jennings Papers [00061]

Collection Description

Papers, 1954-1981.

464 items

Access: Open

Elizabeth Jennings is regarded as one of England's finest poets of the post-WWII era. Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, and educated in private and public schools, she received an Honours Degree in English from St. Anne's College, Oxford. Following her graduation, Jennings worked in the Oxford City Library and, later, for the London publishing firm, Chatto & Windus.

Jennings began writing poetry during adolescence; her first major publication was the poem "The Clock" which appeared in The Spectator in 1949. Thereafter her poetry was printed regularly in such periodicals as The New Statesman, Encounter, The Listener, and Botteghe Oscurs. In 1953 Jennings' first collection, Poems, was published by Fantasy Press. In the mid-1950's, Jennings became associated with The Movement, a group of British writers that included Thom Gunn, Kingsley Amis, John Wain, and Philip Larkin, among others. Jennings extended her successful writing career into the 1980's, and ultimately was the author of more than 20 books of poetry and works of criticism. Her last collection, New Collected Poems (2002), was published posthumously a year after her death.

Elizabeth Jennings' Papers include a variety of materials relating to her life and work. A small series of correspondence is highlighted by the 100 cards and letters from Jennings to her friend Rugena Stanley. A sizable group of Jennings' manuscripts is also present in the collection. The most significant part of the Papers, though, is the group of 41 of Jennings' notebooks which range in content from highly personal journals to collections of poetry and prose manuscripts. The notebooks offer a fascinating glimpse at the intellectual and emotional life of this important poet.

Bibliography:
Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 27. (Detroit: Gale Research, 1978).

Selected Names

Jennings, Elizabeth, 1926-2001. British author

Church, Richard, 1893-1972. British author
Conquest, Robert, 1917- . British author
Maugham, William Somerset, 1874-1965. British author
Merwin, W.S., 1927- . American author
Muir, Edwin 1887-1959. American author
Sackville, Edith, 1887-1962. British author
Sitwell, Edith, 1887-1964. British author
Trypanis, Constantine Athanasius, 1909- . Greek author
Wain, John Barrington, 1925- . British author
Wedgewood, Cicely Veronica, 1910-1997. British author
Wilson, Colin, 1931- . British author

Manuscripts
Special Collections

Skip navigation Library Home Search Resources Catalog Articles Databases Research Help Check This Out How Do I ... Services Libraries Comments WUSTL		Elizabeth Jennings, 1926-2001. British author Links Finding-Aid for the Jennings Papers [00061] Collection Description Papers, 1954-1981. 464 items Access: Open Elizabeth Jennings is regarded as one of England's finest poets of the post-WWII era. Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, and educated in private and public schools, she received an Honours Degree in English from St. Anne's College, Oxford. Following her graduation, Jennings worked in the Oxford City Library and, later, for the London publishing firm, Chatto & Windus. Jennings began writing poetry during adolescence; her first major publication was the poem "The Clock" which appeared in The Spectator in 1949. Thereafter her poetry was printed regularly in such periodicals as The New Statesman, Encounter, The Listener, and Botteghe Oscurs. In 1953 Jennings' first collection, Poems, was published by Fantasy Press. In the mid-1950's, Jennings became associated with The Movement, a group of British writers that included Thom Gunn, Kingsley Amis, John Wain, and Philip Larkin, among others. Jennings extended her successful writing career into the 1980's, and ultimately was the author of more than 20 books of poetry and works of criticism. Her last collection, New Collected Poems (2002), was published posthumously a year after her death. Elizabeth Jennings' Papers include a variety of materials relating to her life and work. A small series of correspondence is highlighted by the 100 cards and letters from Jennings to her friend Rugena Stanley. A sizable group of Jennings' manuscripts is also present in the collection. The most significant part of the Papers, though, is the group of 41 of Jennings' notebooks which range in content from highly personal journals to collections of poetry and prose manuscripts. The notebooks offer a fascinating glimpse at the intellectual and emotional life of this important poet. Bibliography: Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 27. (Detroit: Gale Research, 1978). Selected Names Jennings, Elizabeth, 1926-2001. British author Church, Richard, 1893-1972. British author Conquest, Robert, 1917- . British author Maugham, William Somerset, 1874-1965. British author Merwin, W.S., 1927- . American author Muir, Edwin 1887-1959. American author Sackville, Edith, 1887-1962. British author Sitwell, Edith, 1887-1964. British author Trypanis, Constantine Athanasius, 1909- . Greek author Wain, John Barrington, 1925- . British author Wedgewood, Cicely Veronica, 1910-1997. British author Wilson, Colin, 1931- . British author Manuscripts Special Collections

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