Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1926 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Herbert Ernest Bates (later known to his friends and wife as 'H.E') was born in Rushton, Northamptonshire on 16 May 1905. He received his education at Kettering Grammar School and when he left at the age of sixteen he became, first, a clerk and then a provincial journalist. His first novel, The Two Sisters, was published in 1926 by Jonathan Cape after being rejected by 9 other publishers. By 1931, Cape had published three further novels.
In 1941, the Royal Air Force recruited Bates as a short story writer under the pseudonym of 'Flying Officer X'. This work included, The Greatest People in the World (1942) and Fair Stood the Wind for France. The latter was published by Michael Joseph who was to be his publisher for the rest of his life.
The Darling Buds of May (1959) began a popular series of earthy novels set in a rural context and for this work, he may be best remembered. His acclaimed autobiography was published in three volumes: The Vanished World (1969), The Blossoming World (1971) and The World in Ripeness (1972). Bates died in Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, Kent on 29 January 1974.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0096 SL V 39 1926 Collection (fonds) 1 box Bates , Herbert Ernest , 1905-1974 , author , also known as H E Bates
Herbert Ernest Bates (later known to his friends and wife as 'H.E') was born in Rushton, Northamptonshire on 16 May 1905. He received his education at Kettering Grammar School and when he left at the age of sixteen he became, first, a clerk and then a provincial journalist. His first novel, The Two Sisters, was published in 1926 by Jonathan Cape after being rejected by 9 other publishers. By 1931, Cape had published three further novels.
In 1941, the Royal Air Force recruited Bates as a short story writer under the pseudonym of 'Flying Officer X'. This work included, The Greatest People in the World (1942) and Fair Stood the Wind for France. The latter was published by Michael Joseph who was to be his publisher for the rest of his life.
The Darling Buds of May (1959) began a popular series of earthy novels set in a rural context and for this work, he may be best remembered. His acclaimed autobiography was published in three volumes: The Vanished World (1969), The Blossoming World (1971) and The World in Ripeness (1972). Bates died in Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, Kent on 29 January 1974.
A manuscript draft, 1926, of the novel, The Two Sisters, by Herbert Ernest Bates.
Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English
University of London Library, The Sterling library: a catalogue of the printed books and literary manuscripts collected by Sir Louis Sterling and presented by him to the University of London, Cambridge, (1954).
The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Library, University of Texas at Austin, USA, holds correspondence and papers; the Beinecke Library, Yale University, Connecticut, has papers; The King's School, Canterbury, contains a manuscript of 'The Poacher', 1933-1934; Northampton Central Library holds letters to Joe Braddock, 1935-1973; Aberdeen University Library has letters to John Bisset Chapman, 1927-1933; the John Rylands University Library of Manchester contains correspondence with Basil Dean; the Lauinger Library, Georgetown University, Washington, USA, holds correspondence with Bruce Marshall; Northamptonshire Record Office has letters to Reginald Underwood, 1926-1965; the West Yorkshire Archive Service, Bradford, contains letters to Malachi Whitaker, 1929-1965 (Ref: 25D77/E/8); the Huntington Library, California, USA, holds letters and literary manuscripts, 1926-1968; the British Library, London, has correspondence with the Society of Authors, 1941-[1974] (Ref: Add MSS 63211); Reading University Library holds correspondence, 1930-1960.
1999-07-20 Keith Austin, 2000-06-09 Sarah Smith Bates , Herbert Ernest , 1905-1974 , author , also known as H E Bates x Bates , H E Literature
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
A manuscript draft, 1926, of the novel, The Two Sisters, by Herbert Ernest Bates.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
University of London Library, The Sterling library: a catalogue of the printed books and literary manuscripts collected by Sir Louis Sterling and presented by him to the University of London, Cambridge, (1954).
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Library, University of Texas at Austin, USA, holds correspondence and papers; the Beinecke Library, Yale University, Connecticut, has papers; The King's School, Canterbury, contains a manuscript of 'The Poacher', 1933-1934; Northampton Central Library holds letters to Joe Braddock, 1935-1973; Aberdeen University Library has letters to John Bisset Chapman, 1927-1933; the John Rylands University Library of Manchester contains correspondence with Basil Dean; the Lauinger Library, Georgetown University, Washington, USA, holds correspondence with Bruce Marshall; Northamptonshire Record Office has letters to Reginald Underwood, 1926-1965; the West Yorkshire Archive Service, Bradford, contains letters to Malachi Whitaker, 1929-1965 (Ref: 25D77/E/8); the Huntington Library, California, USA, holds letters and literary manuscripts, 1926-1968; the British Library, London, has correspondence with the Society of Authors, 1941-[1974] (Ref: Add MSS 63211); Reading University Library holds correspondence, 1930-1960.
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English