Daphne du Maurier:'The Last Romantic' W.B. Yeats film script and audio CD

This material is held atUniversity of Exeter Archives

Scope and Content

Booklet compiled by Collin Langley: Daphne du Maurier's film script based on Yeats' poems and autobiographies ( 2 copies). Audio CD-R soundtrack. Langley's notes of extracts in books concerning Daphne du Maurier in which references to Yeats are made.

Administrative / Biographical History

'The Last Romantic' was a tribute to W.B. Yeats in honour of his centenary (1865-1965). The film was directed by Christian Browning and broadcast on RTE in 1965.

Collin Langley (1943-) was educated in Wimbledon. His working life was spent mainly in the City as a Chartered Tax Advisor. He became a partner in an international firm of Chartered Accountants and very involved with The Chartered Institute of Taxation and The American Chamber of Commerce.

Langley read Daphne du Maurier's entire fictional output on his daily commute to London inspired by a family holiday to the West Country and a visit to Jamaica Inn. However, his introduction to 'Du Maurier Country' was not until retirement; the former Du Maurier Festival in 1999 became an annual pilgrimage. During the 2005 Festival he met Professor Helen Taylor of Exeter University who invited him to make a presentation at the 2007 conference and the following year to present his research to the Festival audience.

Using his research experience, Langley was attracted to hitherto uncharted aspects of Daphne du Maurier's life, her interest in poetry and sense of humour and how these manifested themselves in her writing.

Access Information

Usual EUL conditions apply

Acquisition Information

Donated by Collin Langley

Archivist's Note

Catalogued by Sue Inskip, 5 Apr 2013

Conditions Governing Use

Usual EUL restrctions apply

Related Material

EUL MSS 363, 342/3

Records relating to the Du Maurier family are contained in the following University of Exeter collections: EUL MSS 144, 206, 207, 276, 301, 307, 341, 342, 346, 351, 354, 359, 363, 400.