V.p.: N.p., V.d.

A small quantity of typed and holograph contracts, correspondence and associated materials, between and concerning Alasdair Maclean, his publisher, and other interested parties. Various sizes and dates, the whole housed in three manila folders. Some browning and general edgewear consistent with age, but a well preserved collection.

PAPERS AND CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE GOLLANCZ ARCHIVE RELATING TO THE PUBLISHING HISTORY OF FOUR BOOKS (ONE UNPUBLISHED) BY ALASDAIR MACLEAN, INCLUDING MEMORANDA OF AGREEMENT, A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 30 ALS AND TLS FROM THE AUTHOR, AND PAPERWORK RELATING TO NEGOTIATIONS AND PREPARATIONS FOR GLASGOW, HIS LAST, UNPUBLISHED BOOK. A comprehensive paper trail covering Maclean's entire literary career, set movingly against the backdrop of his austere, unhappy life.

In 1972 Giles Gordon, long time Editorial Director at Gollancz, left the company to become a literary agent and to devote more time to his own writing. His place at Gollancz was taken by Kevin Crossley-Holland, who set about rejuvenating the company's poetry list. One of his first signings was Alasdair Maclean, a crofter from Ardnamurchan, whose unpublished poetry had been shown to Crossley-Holland by George MacBeth. First contact was made in August 1972, when Crossley-Holland wrote to Maclean about his poems: 'I do think they are extremely impressive; I kept feeling that their concerns are, to some extent, my concerns and their song the kind of song I respond to.' 

See full details of this archive here