Guide to the Garnett Collection

Abstract: The Garnett collection of correspondence spans three generations of the Garnett family, consisting of more than 700 pages of correspondence written to Richard (1835–1906), his son Edward (1868–1937), and Edward's son David (1892–1981). Authors of these letters include H.E. Bates, E.M. Forster, Leslie Stephen, Richard Curle, Liam O'Flaherty, Henry Williamson and H.G. Wells. Although the collection of correspondence spans nearly eight decades, from 1882 to 1966, the bulk of the letters were written between 1891 and 1928.

Biography

Richard Garnett (1835–1906) worked at the British Museum for 50 years, and became Keeper of Printed Books; he was the author of many biographies, histories of Italian and English literature, verse translations of European poetry, and a poet in his own right.

His son, Edward (1868–1937), was a publisher's editor for over 50 years. He recognized the literary talents of such authors as Stephen Crane, Robert Frost, Sinclair Lewis and Ernest Hemingway, and was able to get their work published in England. Edward Garnett was also the friend and advisor of such writers as Joseph Conrad, W.H. Hudson, John Galsworthy, D.H. Lawrence, W.H. Davies, and T.E. Lawrence.

David Garnett (1892–1981), Edward's son, became an author and wrote eleven novels as well as his autobiography; he edited the letters of T.E. Lawrence and the novels of Thomas Love Peacock. He and Francis Birrell started a bookshop; he helped found the Nonesuch Press and the publishing firm of Rupert Hart-Davis.