THE LITERARY AGENCY OF LONDON. Charles Francis CAZENOVE (187...

Hammer

£750

THE LITERARY AGENCY OF LONDON. Charles Francis CAZENOVE (1870-1915) and George Herbert PERRIS (1866-1920). A remarkable collection of correspondence dated from 1896 until Cazenove's death in 1915. The role of the Literary Agent was still in its infancy at this moment in time but would dramatically alter the business relationship between writers & publishers in England & the United States forever. This archive offers a comprehensive insight into this exciting period in the history of publishing. The collection comprises 397 letters & 40 postcards, the vast majority to Cazenove & 155 copy letters, all initialled, mostly from Cazenove to the following people:-
GRANT RICHARDS the publisher, 214 letters, mostly to Cazenove & 81 initialled copy letters, mostly from Cazenove. John Masefield is much mentioned regarding his works & rights in both England & the United States. American literary agents & publishers referred to include Paul Reynolds, Mitchell Kennerley, George Platt Brett, McMillan in New York, Lippincott in New York, Dana Estes in Boston & McClurg in Chicago. Plus much, much more about writers & publishers in England. Grant Richards was declared bankrupt in 1905 & the collection includes letters concerning this. A New company named E. Grant Richards recommenced work in 1907.
Henry Durant DAVRAY (1872-1944) was a leading translator, literary critic, journalist, writer & literary agent in early 20th century France. 69 letters & 11 postcards to Cazenove & 37 copy letters from Cazenove regarding translations from French to English aimed at both the British & American markets. Davray also translated from English to French for many leading authors, including H. G. Wells, who gets a mention in these letters.
Gertie WENTWORTH-JAMES (1874-1933) was the author of circa 55 smartly witty novels self-consciously progressive especially about sex, published between 1908 & 1926. (See "Oxford Companion to Edwardian Fiction" & Ash Rare Books Blog 04/05/2017). 70 handwritten letters & 27 postcards to Cazenove.
Joseph Martin McCABE (1867-1955) English writer & speaker on free thought, after having been a Roman Catholic priest in his early years. 31 handwritten letters & 2 postcards to Cazenove & 21 copy letters from Cazenove.
Alvin Langdon COBURN (1882-1966) Boston born American photographer who became a key figure in the development of American Pictorialism. 6 handwritten letters to Cazenove & 16 copy letters to Coburn from Cazenove, all concerning photographs to illustrate a book on "Sailing Ships", with text by John Masefield, which appears not to have reached fruition.
Ridgwell CULLUM (pseud of Sidney Groves Burghard) (1867-1943) British writer who wrote a large number of adventure novels over more than 30 years, usually set in sparsely populated regions of the United States (Wikipedia). 7 handwritten letters from Cullum to Cazenove concerning an unsuccessful attempt to find a publisher for Cullum's work "The Iron Island", the letters predate his first published work.