Collection 02: Robert Dessaix literary papers concerning Night Letters, 1991-2004

MLMSS 9065/Boxes 1-5

sub-fonds

1991-2004

Textual Records, Moving Images, Clippings, Graphic Materials, Photographs

421256

0.78 metres of textual material (5 boxes), 1 photograph album and 3 posters - printed, manuscript

Robert Dessaix is a writer, translator, broadcaster and occasional essayist. From 1985 to 1995, after teaching Russian language and literature for many years at the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales, he presented the weekly Books and Writing program on ABC Radio National. In more recent years he has also presented radio series on Australian public intellectuals and great travellers in history, as well as regular programs on language

His best-known books, all translated into several European languages, are his autobiography A Mother's Disgrace; the novels Night Letters and Corfu; a collection of essays and short stories (And So Forth); and the travel memoirs Twilight of Love and Arabesques. A full-time writer since 1995, Robert Dessaix lives in Hobart, Tasmania

Reference:
Random House Book Australia http://www.randomhouse.com.au/authors/robert-dessaix.aspx (accessed 13 August, 2013)

Box 1
Includes proof of the novel Night Letters along with print outs of the first two complete versions and versions of Parts 1-3, 1996

Box 2
Includes proofs of the novel Night Letters, the last complete version of the whole book, versions of Parts 2-3, files regarding the editing and design of the book, Dessaix’s Night Letters proposal for the publisher and research notes going back to 1991

Box 3
Includes fan mail, questions from HSC students, clippings of reviews, Dessaix’s correspondence regarding the novel and promotional material, 1996-1998

Box 4
Correspondence with translators of Night Letters (Dutch, Italian, French, Finnish, German), reviews of the book, correspondence with UK agents, letters of rejection from UK publishers, French promotional material and other promotional posters. Also includes a photograph album from Dessaix’s Italian research trip, 1995-1998

Box 5
Correspondence and fan mail regarding Night Letters, French reviews of the novel, Portuguese reviews of the novel and correspondence with Portuguese translators, material regarding the Night Letters play and French, Danish and German editions of the novel, up to 2004

Video tapes are housed separately from the records at MLMSS 9065
For enquiries about this material please contact the Manuscripts Section

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2013-2014