Michael Hastings:

A Preliminary Inventory of His Papers in the Manuscript Collection at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center

Scope and Contents

The papers of British novelist and playwright Michael Hastings, 1956-1961, contain drafts of several works, as well as personal papers.

Published works in the collection include a novel, The Game (1957); a play, Don't Destroy Me (1956); and a book of poetry, Love Me, Lambeth, and Other Plays (1961). Don't Destroy Me is Hastings' first produced and published play; the manuscripts present are the original handwritten draft and a handwritten draft marked for the stage production. Also included are three poems from Love Me, Lambeth in handwritten and typescript form: "For William Dunlop,""For Starved Faces," and "How They Brought Nelson Home."

Works which may be unpublished (as of 2004) include an unfinished novel, 'Blind Man's Bluff,' and two plays: 'Hero of the Family' and 'I Am God.'  'Hero of the Family' has with it a letter addressed to Hastings from Richard Burton, dated February 19, 1959.

Among the personal papers are two diary notebooks, 1957-1961, and an autobiographical sketch dated 1961.

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Restrictions

Access:

Open for research

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Administrative Information

Acquisition:

Purchases, 1963-1964 (Reg. nos. 920, 1452)

Processed by:

Hope Rider, 2004

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Container List

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