A Guide to the Paul Bowles Collection 1966-1972 Bowles, Paul, Collection, 1966-1972 10501

A Guide to the Paul Bowles Collection 1966-1972

A Collection in
The Clifton Waller Barrett Library
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 10501

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Sharon Defibaugh

Repository

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Accession number

10501

Title

Paul Bowles Collection 1966-1972

Physical Characteristics

The collection is comprised of fifteen typed letters signed; one letter, unsigned; seven autograph letters, signed; one postcard, unsigned; three telegrams, and two drawings.

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Paul Bowles Collection, Accession #10501, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These items were purchased by the Library from Barry Scott, a bookseller in New York.

Scope and Content Information

All of these letters pertain to Bowles' travels through Panama, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, Portugal, and several other countries. Bowles does describe the settings of his foreign sojourns, but his letters are primarily concerned with business and personal matters with Mrabet, a Moroccan writer living in Tangier.

In particular, these letters contain many references to Bowles' and Mrabet's early collaborations in fiction, Love With Few [Some] Hairs and The Lemon. The creative process of these collaborations is explicated: Bowles tapes Mrabet's voice and translates the oral narrator's stories from the Moghrebi into English. Bowles writes a great deal about finding a publisher for Mrabet's first(?) book and its proofing, about the publication of The Lemon, and about the quirks of tape recorders. Other subjects discussed are the problems involved in getting Mrabet to America and Bowles' ill health.

In addition, one letter refers to an incident regarding Tennessee Williams in a Japanese restaurant, and another mentions a meeting between Bowles and American film director Elia Kazan.

Arrangement

This material is arranged chronologically.