| Description | File labelled “Sonia Personal”. Most of the material in the first part of this file seems to relate to Ian Angus’ attempts to ascertain the exact circumstances of how Sonia first met George Orwell.
Contains the following:
Typescript notes of Sonia’s thoughts on George Orwell, marked “from note-book”.
Manuscript notes by Angus recording conversations he had with others about Sonia. Names mentioned are Peter Frank, Lawrence Gowing, Hilary Spurling, Bill Coldstream, Mark Hamilton, Celia Goodman, Stephen Spender, Diana Wetherby, Michael Shelden. Most marked “For Hilary Spurling”. Mostly 1980s.
Letter to Angus from W H Auden inviting him to lunch or tea while he was in Vienna; Sonia had written to Auden to say that Angus would be in Austria. 31 Aug 1970.
Various rough ms notes relating to Sonia, names and addresses, snippets of biographical information.
Copy of a letter from Angus to Karen and Barrie [?] asking for their recollection of how Sonia met George Orwell. Mentions Lys Lubbock, sometime partner of Cyril Connolly. 4 Jan 1989.
A typescript list of books owned by Orwell and by Eileen and Laurence O’Shaughnessy, and a ts list of books owned by Orwell in the possession of Sonia.
Further mss notes by Angus recording conversations about Sonia. Names include Natasha Spender (on Diana Cooke and Janetta Parlade), David Sylvester, Francis Wyndham, Vanessa Parker, Celia Goodman, John Craxton, Lord Weidenfeld, Antonia Pinter, Nigel Nicholson, Tony Garrett, Diana Cooke, Anne Dunn, Janetta Parlade, Michael Shelden, Edward Burns. Copies of letters from Angus to various people explaining the nature of his research into Sonia’s life. Notes by Angus on Sonia extracted from various publications. 1982-2001 but mostly 1993, 1995 and 1997.
Lists of names and addresses of people to contact about Sonia. 1984. |