[Mills & Boon in the 1930s] An Archive of manuscript and typescript material

'A great and important person indeed!':Elizabeth Carfrae and Mills & Boon in the 1930sThe romantic novelist Elizabeth Carfrae (Mrs Peggy Cradock, 1879-1968) was a hugely popular writer between the First and Second World Wars. Her work is of interest not only for the light it casts on popular taste during the interwar period, but also for its depiction of women during a period of great social change, and for its sheer entertainment value, which was recognised by contemporary reviewers.The present collection contains a large amount of material from the high tide mark of Carfrae's success, the early 1930s. It includes corrected autograph drafts, typescripts and synopses of eight books from 'The Radiant Years' (1931) to 'Bridal March' (1936), together with material relating to another possibly-unpublished book, 'Beggar Maid'. Heroines include the daughter of a gamekeeper, a girl brought up in a circus, and the obligatory heiress. Among the heroes are a pacifist aristocrat, an actor 'of doubtful origin' and a killer, with a 'racy' interwar twist is put on the customary themes of marriage between the classes, adultery and prior betrothal. The various drafts cast an interesting light on Carfrae's writing processes, emphasizing the seriousness of her approach. Other material includes two short stories, an untitled poem on the theme of romantic love, a number of playscripts, as well as a small group of papers including two letters from Carfrae's literary agents J. B. Pinker & Sons, and a photographic portrait of her husband in his naval dress uniform.The author of nearly fifty books published in England between 1925 and 1962, Carfrae had been the matron of one of the houses of Rugby School before her marriage to Captain F. E. Cradock, RN. Her writing was popular on both sides of the Atlantic, with almost all of her output during the 1930s and 1940s published for the American market by Putnam's of New York. Throughout a career spanning four decades she was represented by three London publishers: her first 26 books - from 'Barbed Wire' (1925) to 'The Past was a Sleep' (1939) - appeared under the imprint of Mills & Boon; thereafter Hutchinson & Co. handled her novels from 'Jacob's Ladder' (1940) to 'Drums on the Hills' (1956); and her last four books - from 'Three Times a Bridesmaid' (1958) to 'Brief Enchantment' (1962) - were published by Hurst & Blackett.From the very first Mills & Boon trumpeted Carfrae's success. An advertisement in October 1927 described her as 'A Mills & Boon discovery', ' one of the most widely read novelists', a writer 'full of action and resource', with 'many thousands of readers [...] clamouring for her novels" By 1935 Carfrae was second only to Denise Robins in the firm's sales: her 17 titles to that point having sold a total of 264,000 copies.Jay Dixon, in 'Romance Fiction of Mills and Boon' (Taylor & Francis, 1999), points out that early in her career Carfrae was considered 'one of the new breed of authors who wrote "racily"'. He emphasizes her testing of the moral conventions of the period, with several of her novels depicting 'a heroine who commits adultery, and who, far from being punished for it, is eventually able to marry the man she loves'. For Carfae, Dixon writes, 'a woman's sexuality is not muted [...], nor is she simply a wife, but a career woman, who continues earning her living after marriage'.Winston Graham's 'Memoirs of a Private Man' (2003) provides a glimpse of Carfrae during the period of this collection, also showing the attitude to her brand of writing. Graham describes how, before the publication of his first book in 1934, 'there appeared on the horizon a Captain and Mrs Craddock [sic], who had taken a house for six months in St Agnes. She was actually a real, live authoress and had published novels - many novels - under her maiden name of Elizabeth Carfrae. A great and important person indeed! She was taken up and lionized by what passed in the district for society, and she heard of my play and helped with its production and was generally very kind and generous to me. When she knew I had written a novel she asked to see it and sent it up with a note to her agent, J. B. Pinker, who had it read and sent it back, saying he did not think he could place it. | At the end of six months the Craddocks abruptly departed, leaving unpaid bills everywhere, and were never heard of again. It is a characteristic of some authors which I have always determined to avoid. She was published by Mills & Boon, and nowadays we all know about them: "not lit., my dear, but Romance with a capital R!"'The following description is divided into nineteen sections under four headings:A. FictionB. Short Stories and poemC. PlayscriptsD. Miscellaneous PapersThe collection is in good overall condition, with the inevitable signs of age and wear, and a few leaves worn or torn. The material was in considerable disorder when acquired, and as complete and fully accurate collation has not been possible, the present description is to be viewed as tentative.A. FictionONE: 'The Radiant Years' (London: Mills and Boon, 1931; New York: Putnam's, 1932). Typescript with autograph emendations. 276pp., 4to. In card folder with title in manuscript and stamp 'MO 11 29', suggesting composition around 1929.April is the child of the union between Angela Abbot and 'pennyless young actor of doubtful origin' Basil Deering, and is brought up at Abbotsford, the hated home of her grandfather Jonathan Abbot. Her desire to marry naval officer Colin Bassett is obstructed by her betrothal to her grandfather's favourite Ross Gilmore.TWO: 'Silver Magic' (London: Mills and Boon, 1932; New York: Putnam's, 1932). Signed typescript with autograph emendations. 306pp., 4to.The 'Publishers' Weekly' gives the theme as follows: 'Shirley Gratton's determination to marry for money was upset when she married an impoverished young planter in the West Indies, but her love of luxury almost ruined her marriage.'THREE: 'Life's Like That' (London: Mills and Boon, 1933; New York: A. L. Burt, 1934). Five items. ONE: Under title 'Merry Go Round'. Autograph early draft of the start of the novel (133pp., 4to). TWO: Autograph later draft of the early part, with emendations. 123pp., 4to. THREE: Under title 'Merry Go Round'. Typed early draft, with autograph corrections. Incomplete: around 230pp., 4to, consisting of Chapters 1-8 (pp.1-104) and 17-31 (pp.179-304), with a few gaps. FOUR: Typed draft, under title 'Merry Go Round's. Lacking middle section: 230pp., 4to., paginated 1-104, 179-304. On the reverse of p.5 is a pencil portrait of 'Dorinda', with Marcel Wave. FIVE: Unpaginated typescripts. 11pp., 4to.prAlso present is a newspaper cutting by Romeike of New York from the Waukesha Freeman, describing the book as 'the story of Dorinda, an unsophisticated English girl, who at nineteen became companion to the eccentric Miss Martin. Three years later Miss Martin died leaving her large fortune to Dorinda, who planned to spend the rest of her life quietly at Summerhill. But Sonia, Miss Martin's worldly neice, changes her mind and her life for her.' Another reviewer describes the book as 'the story of Dorinda Brangwin, an orphan, who became a companion to a lovable old lady. Her experiences as an unprotected heiress, afraid of living, and her achievement of happiness are related in the usual way.' And the reviewer of the New York Times, 15 July 1934, seems to concur: 'MISS CARFRAE writes in a fluent, pleasing style about nice people. She likes to show how romance raises its lovely head in the most unlikely places. For contrast, she includes a few unpleasant, or even wicked, persons.'FOUR: 'This Thing Called Love' (London: Mills and Boon, 1933; New York: Putnam's, 1934). Three items. ONE: Typed synopsis, with a few autograph corrections, under the title 'The Marriage of Juliet'. 6pp., 4to. TWO: Large bundle of early autograph draft, with extensive emendations. 217pp., 8vo. THREE: Various pages of typed early drafts, with extensive autograph emendations in red pencil. 17pp., 4to, paginated between 46 and 117. Apparently early 'tries', with one page (60) giving two short versions of the same passage. FOUR: Late typescript of part of book. 13pp., 4to. Paginated 105-117.The heroine Juliet Farraday is an interior decorator married to popular singer and 'the radio favourite of the moment' David Ogilvie. The attempts of the 'beautiful, reckless' Drina Mallard to entice Ogilvie away end in her suicide.FIVE: 'Sunlight on the Hills' (Mills and Boon, 1934; New York: Putnam's, 1935). Signed typescript with occasional autograph emendations. 304pp., 4to. Title-page with Mills and Boon label.With two short press cuttings by 'The Original Romeike Press Clipping Bureau', New York, one from the Florida Democrat, 15 February 1935, and the other from the Stamford Advocate, 6 February 1935, the latter giving a synopsis of the plot: 'Forced by continued ill health to give up a bright theatrical career, a lovely young London actress retires to a village in Cornwall. A chance meeting with a small boy ripens into a warm friendship which destroys her sense of uselessness in the world. Later, on the verge of a brilliant comeback to the stage, she is impelled to make a tremendous sacrifice for this child. From this experience, however, develops a romance of great strength and beauty.' Also present is a newspaper cutting by Durrant's of London, from the Musselburgh News, describing the book as 'a story of great charm. Life in a sanatorium and later on a sea voyage may not appear very exciting, but the characters are so well drawn that one does not tire as the tale unrolls. Capably written, this is a novel that will delight the reader.'SIX: 'Lady By Marriage' (London: Mills and Boon, 1935; New York: Putnam's, 1935). Three items. ONE: Autograph early draft of part of book, including beginning of first chapter. 24pp., 4to. In pen and ink. TWO: Typescript of early draft of latter part of the book, with extensive autograph emendations. A total of 145pp., 4to (paginated 86-115, 154-207, and 256 to unpaginated conclusion). THREE: Later typescript of the book's conclusion. 51pp., 4to, paginated 221-271. With duplicate carbon copy. Accompanied by a note by the professional typist responsible: 'At the very end she says she's been married twelve years. She's only 27, so I changed it to seven. | I didn't copy out the early part. I think you gave it me by mistake. | M. Camilla Hamilton'.Also present are three newspaper cuttings by Durrant's of London regarding the book. One, from the Perth Sunday Times, 17 March 1935, describes the book as a 'well thought out story written in a good style', telling how 'a young doctor [John Ambrose] took a waif [Sheila Kavanagh] from her sordid surroundings of a fair to his pleasant home, and how fortune came to them both'. After their infant child dies, the couple drift apart, and she again falls under the spell of an old suitor, Jimmy Bellamy, who has returned to England from the Malay States. Bellamy presses her to choose between him and her husband, and she retires to her country cottage so that she can decide alone. While there 'she receives the news that her husband has been created a baronet in recognition of his public service. Divorce, she realises, is impossible - [...]'.SEVEN: 'Town Girl' (London: Mills and Boon, 1935; New York: Putnam's, 1936). Typescript, under the title 'One Way Street', with autograph emendations. 249pp., 4to. With part of printed title-page for book with title corrected from 'The Distant Stars'.According to 'Book Review Digest': 'Tessa, a London bachelor-business girl, in order to escape temptation In the form of the Arm's Junior partner, goes to the country, meets a young farmer, Robin Amesbury, and marries him in spite of the opposition of his old-fashioned parents.'EIGHT: 'Bridal March' (London: Mills and Boon, 1936; New York: Putnam's, 1936). Signed typescript with occasional autograph emendations. Lacking p.67. Title-page with Mills and Boon label. Signed in pencil at end 'Elizabeth Carfrae | Chagford | Devon'. A review in the New York Times, 12 July 1936, began: 'Miss Carfrae has a gift for charming story-telling. Her new novel starts out in jolly fashion with the whirlwind courtship of two engaging, impecunious young Londoners. Elizabeth worked in a steamship line office, and was keen as mustard on her 40-shillings-a-week job.'NINE: 'Beggar Maid' (unpublished or retitled novel?). Five items. ONE: Typed synopsis. 4pp., 4to. With eight-page autograph draft of same. TWO: Large bundle of early autograph drafts of the start of the book (117pp., 4to). THREE: Typescript of the first eight chapters (63pp., 4to). FOUR: Earlier typescript draft of the first two chapters (25pp., 4to) with the heroine named as 'Sally Bennett'. FIVE: Typescript of start of Chapter 22, with autograph emendations. 21pp., 4to.Sally Heston, the daughter of a gamekeeper, marries pacifist toff Tony Moreton, but her lowly origins are revealed when she goes to the aid of her brother, a member of an American kidnap gang. As a result, her husband's career in the Foreign Office is irreparably damaged, and he divorces her. The couple are reconciled after he suffers a serious illness, and she becomes the Countess of Hammerleyton.TEN: Autograph of untitled short story or novel. 60pp., 8vo and 4to. Concerns the romantic attachment between Janie Guthrie and Charles Hewey, a man with a dark secret: '"Manslaughter. I killed a chap. It was unintentional though he's better dead because he wasn't a nice person." He laughed savagely: "He did assault defenceless women which was why I hit him. The woman in question was my wife so you can fill in the gaps for yourself if you're sufficiently interested. [...]"'ELEVEN: '"And Widows"' (novel). Autograph draft of chapter, with notes. 9pp., 4to. At head of the first page is what may be an alternative title, 'Acquainted With Grief'. There is no record of this work.TWELVE: Typescript (2pp., 4to) of last two pages of synopsis of unnamed work, involving 'Betty' and 'Evelyn'B. Short Stories and PoemTHIRTEEN: 'Fog' (undated short story, possibly from the collection 'The Lady of Red Gables', Mills and Boon, London, 1932). Signed typescript with autograph emendations. 19pp., 4to. With autograph draft (23pp., 4to), exhibiting differences from the typed version. In grey folder printed up for the New York branch of Carfrae's literary agents James B. Pinker & Son, Inc. A woman's deception of her husband is threatened with exposure when he has an operation to correct his blindness, but all is well when the operation proves a failure.FOURTEEN: 'Pin Money' (undated short story, possibly from the collection 'The Lady of Red Gables', Mills and Boon, London, 1932). Typescript with occasional pencil annotations. 11pp., 4to. On a visit to a brothel, a Brazilian gentleman shoots his fiancée, who is working there to pay for her wedding trousseau.FIFTEEN: Untitled poem. Typescript. 2pp., 4to. On page with cancelled heading: 'SILVER MAGIC. | By | Elizabeth Carfrae', and so probably dating from the same time as the novel's composition, and perhaps intended to introduce it. Apparently unpublished. Beginning, 'If you're wise in your generation and a white moon beckons you'. Twenty lines arranged in five four-line stanzas. Kiplingesque in tone if not in sentiment, the poem praises those who have 'learnt the wisdom of not being always wise', whose steps 'love's silver magic' will guide to 'the foot of a golden throne'. The fourth stanza reads: 'You'll probably have no money but that won't worry you much | And the chances are there'll be babies and overdue taxes and such, | While all your wealthy relations and all the wise friends you know | Will stand by and dismally murmur "You'll remember I told you so.'C. Playscripts.SIXTEEN: 'The Devil's Own' (playscript, apparently unpublished). Typescript of the start of the play. 9pp., 4to. 'The scene is laid throughout on the verandah of David Hardy's banana plantation at Carachita, Jamaica B.W.I.' Characters include 'Jonas, the native "boy"'. Another character, Constance, is decidedly racist in attitude, with such comments as: 'I'm afraid of the niggers and they know it.' and 'I hate the niggers. Everything they stand for.'SEVENTEEN: 'Life's Like That' (playscript, apparently unpublished). Typescript of Act 2, Scenes 1 (19pp., 4to) and 2 (11pp., 4to), with the last page of another scene.EIGHTEEN: Final page of unnamed play. 1p., 4to. Featuring 'Gretchen' and 'the Piper'. Signed 'Elizabeth Carfrae.'D. Miscellaneous papersNINETEEN: Twelve items, dating from between 1931 and 1935.Three of the items which relate to Carfrae's literary affairs are: ONE: TLS to Carfrae from her agent J. Ralph Pinker ('Ralph') of James B. Pinker & Son, London, 17 May 1933. 'The Putnam money is due this month as you say. | By the way, are we to receive another batch of manuscript this month for Mills & Boon? Boon rang me up this morning to inquire because he had sent me his £40: and, if you re-call [sic], the arrangement was that he should pay as he received the manuscript. [...]' TWO: Copy of TLS to Pinker's of New York from New York Attorneys Szold Perkins & Brandwen, 15 October 1931, 'RE: ELIZABETH CARFRAE'. States that they have been instructed by the Amalgamated Bank of New York to 'commence suit', as 'A note on which you are a party is in default.' THREE: TNS to Carfrae from New York branch of Pinker's, 17 October 1931. Signed by the President, Eric S. Pinker ('Eric').The other items are: a portrait photograph of Captain Cradock in Royal Navy dress suniform; an ALS to Carfrae ('Dear Peggy') from 'May'. On letterhead of the Hotel Wentworth, New York, 28 March 1932. 8pp., 12mo; an ANS to 'Mrs. Cradock' from Edith C. Moon of St Agnes; an ALS to Captain Cradock from 'A. E. Moyle' of Truro, 24 July 1933; an ALS to Captain Cradock from 'P. M. Gale' of Gale & Son; a grocery bill to 'Mrs. Cradock' from William Collins & Co., 1 May 1935; a clothing bill to 'Miss E. Carfrae | St Agnes Cornwall' from Barker's of Kensington, 12 July 1933; a bill to F. E. Cradock from the West Cornwall Supply Co. Ltd., 30 June 1933; pencil scribblings by Carfrae (3pp., 4to).--Barbed wire / by Elizabeth Carfrae. Published London : Mills & Boon 1925 Through troubled waters. Published Lond, 1925 The devil's jest. Published Lond, 1926 Daffodils in the wind. Published Lond, 1927 and London : Cassel 1934The distant stars. / Published London : Mills & Boon 1928 Payment in full. Published Lond, 1929 Guarded heights. / Published London, 1929 The trivial round. Published Lond, 1930 The bone of contention. / Published London : Mills & Boon [1930] Windy corner. Published Lond, 1931 The radiant years. Published Lond, 1931 Putnam's 1932The lady of Red gables : and other stories. Published Lond, 1932 Silver Magic. / Published London, 1932 New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons c1932 This thing called love. Published Lond, 1933 Putnam's 1934Life's like that. Published Lond, 1933 New York A. L. Burt, 1934Sunlight on the hills. Published Lond, 1934 New York: Putnam's 1935Lady by marriage. / Published London, 1935 New York : Putnam 1935 Town girl. Published Lond, 1935 New York Putnam's 1936Bridal march. / Published London : [s.n.] 1936 New York : Putnam [c1936] Fish in the sea. / Published London : Mills & Boon 1936 And more also. / Published London, 1937 New York : Putnam 1937This Way to the Stars. / Published London, 1937 New York : G. P. Putnam's sons [c1937]The giving of a ring. Published Lond, 1938 Seascape. / Published London, 1938 Blue heaven / Published London : Mills & Boon, Limited [1939] The Past Was A Sleep. / Published London, Mills and Boon, 1939 New York : Putnam c1939Jacob's ladder / Published London : Hutchinson & Co [1940] New York: Putnam'sManuscript of youth. / Published London, Hutchinson 1940 Symphony in Green. / Published London, Hutchinson 1941 Autumn Glory. Published New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons [1942] The lonely road. / Published London : Hutchinson & Co. [1942] New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons [1942]Autumn Glory. / Published London, 1943 Happy families. / Published London : [s.n.] 1944 To-morrow sometimes comes. / Published London : Hutchinson & Co. [1945] New York : G. P. Putnam's sons [1945] Penny Wise. / Published London, 1947 New York Putnam's 1947Portrait of Caroline. / Published London, 1948 New York Putnam's 1947Good morning, Miss Morrison. / Published London, 1949 New York Putnam's 1948The season of snows. / Published London, 1950 The dividing line. / Published London, 1951 So Much To Forget. / Published London, Hutchinson, 1953 Sunshine in September. / Published London, Hutchinson, 1955 Ten years for Miranda / Published London : Hutchinson 1956 Drums on the Hills. / Published London, Hutchinson 1956 Three times a bridesmaid. / Published London, Hurst & Blackett 1958 Career Girl. / Published London, Hurst & Blackett 1959 The treasure room. Published Hurst & Blackett, 1961 Brief Enchantment. / Published London, 1962