Correspondence and Lectures of Professor Douglas Eaglesham Dunn (b. 1942)

The collection is composed of: typescript of lecture Under the influence on Philip Larkin; tape-recording of Under the influence on C-60 cassette; copies of Spring and Reasons for attendance; letter to B. E. Moon, October 1988; and, letter P. B. Freshwater, Edinburgh University Library, March 1991.

The poet and short story writer Douglas Eaglesham Dunn was born in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, on 23 October 1942. He studied at the University of Hull where he obtained a BA, and studied librarianship at Glasgow University. He worked as a colleague of Philip Larkin at the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull, and he became a full-time writer in 1971. His early work includes Terry Street (1969), The happier life (1972), Love or nothing (1974), and Barbarians (1979). In 1981 he returned to Scotland from Hull. That same year he published St Kilda's Parliament and other work in the 1980s includes Elegies (1985), Secret villages (1985) and Northlight (1988). In 1991, Dunn was appointed Professor of English Language and Literature at St. Andrews University. Other work includes verse translation of Racine's Andromache (1990), Dante's drum-kit (1993), Boyfriends and girlfriends (1994) and The year's afternoon (2000).

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

Lecture on Philip Larkin, acquired February 1987, Accession no. E87.48. Tape acquired from University Librarian, April 1987, Accession no. E87.57. Letter to Moon, acquired D. Dunn, August 1988, Accession no. E88.108. Letter to Freshwater, acquired Freshwater, March 1991, Accession no. E91.42

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Who's who 1995. London: A. and C. Black, 1995. (2) Part of the material being the National Library of Scotland's Write stuff website.

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 these locations of Dunn related material: correspondence and papers, 1968-1985, Hull University, Brynmor Jones Library, Ref. DDD, and letters to Tony Flynn, 1970-1983; and, miscellaneous letters, 1972-1980, Leeds University Library, Special Collections.