Other correspondence

Scope and Content

This folder contains the following:

  • Letter from William Browne (theatre director and husband of actress Marie Tempest) to Coward in which he offers his opinion on one of Coward's plays (possibly Hay Fever). Signed, dated January 1923.
  • Handwritten letter from Lorn McNaughton to Wynne telling her that Coward is on the mend after surgery. Signed, dated July 1934.
  • Handwritten letter from McNaughton to Wynne in which she explains how the death of Cowards' mother and UK tax laws informed his decision to emigrate. Signed, dated June 1956.
  • Copy of typed letter from Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson (theatrical collectors) to Wynne asking for information regarding Coward's early career and his collaborations with her. Signed, dated March 1958.
  • Copy of typed letter from Wynne replying to Mander and Mitchenson in which she details the moment that inspired Coward to become a writer and bemoans the factual inaccuracies in his biography Present Indicative. Signed, dated March 1958.
  • Typed letter from Coward to Jon Wynne in which he talks about his misgivings over publishing a book of photographs of himself. Signed, dated March 1960.
  • Group of copies of 4 letters between Wynne and Edward Nils Holstius (novelist. In the letters Wynne is called 'Peter', and Edward 'Teddie'). Mostly reminiscences, these letters were kept in an envelope (this envelope has been destroyed) on which was written: "These photocopies are included because of the light they throw on a subject known to very few people, but subject to speculation for lack of evidence - the existence of a "list" Coward kept of people who he felt had wronged him, and on whom he intended to revenge himself." All letters are signed and dated January-March 1961.
  • Handwritten letter from Sheridan Morley (author) to Wynne asking to meet her to talk about his upcoming biography of Coward. Signed, dated 8th November 1966.
  • Copy of typed letter from Wynne in response to Morley offering him information for his book. Signed, dated 8th November 1966.
  • Typed letter form Morley in response to Wynne thanking her for the information given and asking for more on Coward as a teenager. Signed, dated 10th November 1966.
  • Copy of typed letter from Wynne in response to Sheridan asking that relevant passages be sent to her for approval before publishing. Enclosed is a copy of a letter of 'corrections' Wynne had sent to Coward on reading Present Indicative. Unsigned, dated 12 November 1966.
  • Handwritten letter from Morely to Wynne thanking her for information. Signed, dated November 1966.
  • Handwritten letter from Morley to Wynne thanking her for speaking to him. Signed, dated 6th April 1967.
  • Copy of typed letter from Wynne to Morley offering more relevant pieces of information regarding her friendship with Coward. Signed, dated 10th April 1967.
  • Typed letter from Morley to Wynne once again thanking her for her help. Signed, dated 14th April 1967.
  • Copy of typed letter from Wynne to Morley in which she thanks him for sending her a copy of Coward's plays and discusses the subjects of marriage and homosexuality. Unsigned, dated 14th April 1967.
  • Copy of typed letter from Wynne to her son Jon in which she discusses her concerns about having had her interview with Morley tape-recorded. Unsigned, dated 17th April 1967.
  • Handwritten note from Coward to Jon thanking him for a letter. Signed, undated.
  • Telegram from 'Gray' to Coward and Wynne inviting them to dinner. Signed, date illegible.

Administrative / Biographical History

In these letters Wynne and Coward regulalrly use nick-names for each other. Wynne is called Stodge or Stoj, and Coward is Podge or Poj.