Notebooks and literary papers of Roger Senhouse, including some letters

Comprises: (1) 6 autograph manuscript notebooks kept by Roger Senhouse between ca. 1942 and 1962, numbers 1, 3, and 4 being commonplace-books (chiefly containing notes on books and on meetings with other writers, together with some poems), number 2 a bibliographical notebook (including a 'List of Books in the Library of Roger Senhouse printed - for the most part - between the years 1780 and 1830'), number 5 a diary (for parts of 1962 and 1966), and number 6 a travel notebook (with notes on travel to Greece in 1962); and (2) 127 miscellaneous items extracted from between the leaves of the notebooks, including (a) autograph manuscript and typescript letters between Senhouse and various correspondents, dated 1937 - 1962; (b) numerous press cuttings, mainly literary in character, amongst which there is an appreciation of Senhouse extracted from The Times for 4 September 1970, a few days after his death; (c) several postcards sent to Senhouse from various parts of the world and a printed art exhibition brochure; (d) various drawings by him, both in pencil and in colour; and (e) miscellaneous autograph manuscript notes, mainly of a literary nature.

Roger H.P. Senhouse, the publisher, translator, and bibliophile, was born in 1899. In his early twenties he became known in London literary circles as a member of the Bloomsbury circle. In 1936 he was the co-founder of the firm of Secker and Warburg, and applied his wide knowledge of literature mainly to the presentation of foreign authors. His translations were chiefly from French literature, notably the works of Andr Gide and of Colette. He owned a fine personal library at Rye. He died in 1970.

The miscellaneous items extracted from the notebooks are kept in 6 separate folders numbered according to the numbers of the respective notebooks into which they were inserted.

Access is unrestricted.

The bequest of Norah Smallwood, 1984.

In English, but with a little French.