Item ALL/11/139 - Draft letter from Herbert Allingham [to Hamilton Edwards]

ALL/11/139

Draft letter from Herbert Allingham [to Hamilton Edwards]

Item

1 piece, Manuscript

‘I was aware that my story “The Boy Who Won Out” was entirely different from the school yarns you publish and I only sent it on the chance you might be disposed to make a new departure. By the way with regard to your objection to the drunkenness episode I am tempted to remind you that the most popular school story ever written contains a chapter dealing with the same subject. I refer to the late Archdeacon Farrar’s 'Eric'. This story is very goody-goody but it has run through 36 editions and in chapter 8 the hero gets drunk with far less excuse than my hero has for his slip. My story was an attempt to describe real school life. However I can do the conventional stuff quite well. My 'A Regular Duffer', 'The Captain’s Fag' and 'Max the Magnificent' are all in this line. I will send you comedy of the sort very shortly. I know Mr. Henry St John’s work. It is very conventional of course but the author has a real sense of fun and his stuff is nearly always readable.’

Status: Open. Access is subject to signing the Regulations for Access form, unless the records are restricted under the Data Protection Act 2018 or under exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Physical description: Folded due to size