Papers of Prof. Cyril Brett (1882-1936), Professor of English, 1921-36

The collection contains several hundred notebooks, notes, lists, cuttings, postcards, essays, theatre programmes and illustrations. The notes and notebooks refer to various subjects including: English language, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Tennyson, Shakespeare, philology, plant names, innsigns, geography, chess and heraldry.

Of particular interest is an original manuscript of William Gilpin, Three Essays (published in 1792), with extensive alterations for an intended new edition, which was eventually published posthumously in 1808, with nine original drawings.

The collection also contains:

- an annotated copy of Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke, ed. E.M.Thompson (Oxford, 1889)
- Milton Tercentenary: the portraits, prints and writings of John Milton (Cambridge, 1908), extra-illustrated and annotated by Cyril Brett
- a 1925 edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, edited by J. R. R. Tolkien and E. V. Gordon, together with two holograph letters from Tolkien to Brett relating to the edition

Arthur Cyril Adair Brett (1882-1936) was Professor of English 1921-1936 at University College Cardiff, having joined the College staff in 1907. The Brett collection includes a number of notebooks of Herbert Bruce, Professor of History, 1908-35 and one of Harold Littledale, Professor of English 1899-1921, which were presumably given to Cyril Brett.

Access is available by prior appointment.

Brett's printed books and manuscripts were purchased by the University in 1936.

Shelves 568-571.

In copyright until 2039 under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Photography is permitted only upon completion of a Copyright Declaration, confirming your intention to use the images under an exemption for private research and study. It is your responsibility to seek and obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce images for purposes other than private research.