Papers relating to Leonard Alfred George Strong (1896-1958)

The collection comprises: an autograph manuscript of Trevannion published 1926; autograph manuscript of Temperament: portrait of a young husband; correspondence 1921-1923 with newspaper obituaries and photographs 1958; correspondence 1943; correspondence with E. Marsh 1922-1930; common-place book; correspondence 1950-1956; signed typescript letter to Mr. Dawson 2 May 1951; letter to McGregor, 25 January 1956; and, correspondence with unknown correspondent, 1954-1955, relating to publication of Deliverance.

Novelist, critic, and man of letters, Leonard Alfred George Strong was born in Plymouth, Devon, in 1896. He was educated at Brighton College and he studied at Wadham College, Oxford, where he received encouragement from W. B. Yeats. He was exempted from military service during the First World War on medical grounds. Strong taught for twelve years at Summer Fields School, Oxford, before becoming a professional writer. He was also a Visiting Tutor at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Between 1938 and 1958, he was Director of Methuen Ltd. (Publishers). Strong's own output over nearly forty years includes poetry, short stories, novels, biography, and commentary. Published poetry includes Dublin days (1921), Northern lights (1930), The doll (1947), and The body's imperfections: collected poems of L. A. G. Strong (1957). Short stories include Doyle's rock and other stories (1925), Tuesday afternoon and other stories (1935), Sun on water and other stories (1940), and Darling Tom and other stories (1952). Novels include Dewer rides (1929), The open sky (1939), Travellers (1945), Travannion (1945), Deliverance (1955), and The light above the lake (1958). Biography includes Dr. Qicksilver 1660-1742, The life and times of Thomas Dover MD (1955) and Henry of Agincourt (1937). Leonard Alfred George Strong died on 17 August 1958. A memorial service was held for him at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 3 October 1958.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Trevannion, Temperament and correspondence, acquired from Dr. John A. Watt, September 1989, Accession no. E89.56-58. Correspondence 1943, purchased Bristow, October 1989, Accession no. E89.64. Marsh correspondence, transferred within Edinburgh University Library, August 1990, Accession no. E90.81-83. Common-place book, acquired from Dr. John A. Watt, January 1995, Accession no. E95.03. Correspondence 1950-1956, purchased B. Rota, October 1995, Accession no. E95.69. Dawson letter, purchased Bristow, 1996, Accession no. E96.28. McGregor letter, transferred within Edinburgh University Library, November 1997, Accession no. E97.60. Deliverance letters, purchased Ulysses Bookshop, February 1998, Accession no. E98.04.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Who was who 1951-1960. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1961.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes several locations of Strong related material: correspondence and literary papers, University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center Library; letters (10) to F. R. Higgins, 1924-1935, National Library of Ireland, Ref. MS 10864; letters (22) to R. L. Megroz, 1932-1949, Reading University Library, Ref. MS 1979; letters (12) to Saumas O'Sullivan, 1927-1952, Trinity College Dublin, Ref. MSS 4630-49; and, correspondence with Society of Authors, 1927-1960, British Library, Manuscript Collections, Ref. Add MSS 56825-6.