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Description: | POWYS BOTHERS COLLECTION
In 1879 the Rev. Charles Francis Powys became curate of St Peter's Church, Dorchester, moving from Derbyshire with his wife and five children. During his residence in Dorchester three more children were born, and after his move to the living of Montacute in Somerset in 1885 the Rev. Powys and his wife had three more children. All the eleven children in this remarkable family showed some literary or artistic talent, and three of them have become novelists, essayists and poets of lasting reputation. These are John Cowper Powys (1872-1963), Theodore Francis Powys (1875-1953) and Llewelyn Powys (1884-1939).
Dorset features in the writings of all three of the brothers to a great extent, and all of them lived in the county for considerable periods of time. The Dorset Collection in Dorchester Reference Library has copies of all the main published works including many first editions. There are also published writings by the lesser-known members of the family - Phillipa, Albert Reginald, Littleton Charles and Marian Powys. Some of Llewelyn Powys's books are illustrated with woodcuts and engravings by his sister Gertrude. The wives of two brothers were also published authors whose works are included in the collection because of their close association with the family. They are Elizabeth Myers, the second wife of Littleton Charles Powys, and Alyse Gregory, wife of Llewelyn Powys. Two members of the younger generation also feature - Littleton Alfred, son of John Cowper Powys, who became a Roman Catholic Priest, and Francis Llewelyn, son of Theodore Powys who published poems under the name of Laurence Powys.
The Powys Collection also includes works of biography, criticism and appreciation, bibliographies, theses, periodical articles and journals of the Powys societies.
Access to the collection
The Collection may be consulted at any time that Dorchester Library is open, without prior appointment. All material is for reference only, although copies of many of the books are available for loan in libraries throughout the county. The staff are pleased to help with enquiries. | Subjects: | English literature (general) Folklore interest Folklore Writers Fiction Literature Writing Novels English literature (cultural) Authors | Source: | Cornucopia - Discovering UK Collections | Telephone: | 01305 224440/224652 | Identifier: | oai:www.cornucopia.org.uk:7955 | Go to resource |
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