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Undergraduate notes and essays of John Wain

 Collection

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Undergraduate notes and essays.

Dates

  • Creation: 1943-1948

Extent

0.3 Linear metres (2 physical shelfmarks)

Language of Materials

  • English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark e.g. MS. 16166/1].

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Full range of shelfmarks:

MS. 16166/1-2

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 16166

Abstract

Undergraduate notes and essays of John Barrington Wain, 1943-1946.

Biographical / Historical

John Barrington Wain (1925-1994), author and poet, grew up in Staffordshire before going on to read English at St John's College, Oxford, in 1943. He recieved teaching from C.S. Lewis and attended Inklings meetings, founded the literary magazine 'Mandrake', and had amongst his peers Philip Larkin and Kingsley Amis. After recieving a first, he was awarded a Fereday Research Fellowship at the college.

In 1947 he married Marianne Uffenheimer and began teaching at the University of Reading. Between 1951 and 1953, Wain published his first collection of poetry, Mixed Feelings, his first novel Hurry on Down, and a scholarly work Contemporary Reviews of Romantic Poetry. In 1955 Wain gave up lecturing to become a full-time author, and was associated with the 'Movement', a set of nine poets, as well as being labelled as one of the 'Angry Young Men' of the period.

Wain married twice more after divorcing his first wife in 1956, and continued to publish both novels and poetry. His attempt at writing for the theatre failed, but he did have some success with radio plays, and he continued to lecuture at various universities in France, Canada and the US. John Wain was awarded a CBE in 1984, and made an honourary fellow of St John's the following year.

Arrangement

Original filing system order retained. MS. 16166/1 was filed in a pink cardboard folder; MS. 16166/2 was organised according to the name of the author under study and papers filed alphabetically before the corresponding letter divider in the folder. Original folders maintained.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by John Barrington Wain to the Bodleian Library.

Title
Catalogue of the undergraduate notes and essays of John Wain
Status
Published
Author
Finding aid prepared by Tilly Guthrie
Date
2019
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom