Correspondence with John Masefield

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 GDN/A/M47
  • Dates of Creation
      [1 Jan] 1902-[1] May 1930
  • Physical Description
      23 pieces; 24 sheets

Scope and Content

Correspondence with John Edward Masefield (1878-1967), poet and novelist, relating to an application for employment at the Manchester Guardian, with details of previous experience and the provision of specimens of work. There is a request for Masefield to be considered for employment by [Anna Dorothea] Dorothy Scott, [niece of Scott].

There is discussion of Masefield's employment by the Manchester Guardian, with reference to a trial period of employment, an inability to offer a post previously mentioned, as it is required to be filled quickly, and offer of continued employment to write reviews, articles and the miscellany column instead. There are requests by Masefield to be considered for employment in the London office of the Manchester Guardian, with suggestions of continuing his current work there, division of time between London and Manchester, and to be allowed to be given control of the paper's literary reviews, which are declined.

There are requests for back page articles for the Manchester Guardian from Masefield, in addition to book reviews, with the suggestion of an article on Captain Cook, which is accepted. There is an offer of an article by Masefield for publication on armistice day. There is also a request that Masefield write a review of Disenchantment by [Charles Edward] Montague, journalist and novelist, which is accepted, and an internal memorandum relating to the decision to reduce the number of books sent to Masefield for review. There is a request by Scott for a signature from Galsworthy on an appeal for action by local authorities to combat the increase in litter, which is provided. There is a letter of thanks [for a letter of congratulation from Scott on Masefield's becoming poet laureate].

GDN/A/M47/1 is an internal employment history index card for Masefield, 1902.

GDN/A/M47/2-4 are reviews by Masefield entitled 'Patriotic Industry', 'England from Outside' and 'Artless Lays' in the Daily News, 1903.