AIKEN, Joan.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Black Hearts in Battersea. The first draft typescript manuscript of the author's second book, the action of which takes place in the same period as that of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. The text was extensively cut when published: the manuscript has about 65,000 words but the book published a little over 50,000. Also included is an uncorrected proof copy, signed by the author.In 1981 Margaret Drabble, on behalf of the Society of Authors, asked writers for manuscript material to be sold to benefit the society. Joan Aiken's typed letter signed, included here, notes that she responded by having "a terrible rummage round" and failed to locate The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. However, she offered Black Hearts in Battersea, stating that "this may have the advantage, from collectors' point of view, that it was a good deal too long and had to have several chapters cut out, which are in this unedited version". It appears that the cuts were, indeed, extensive. These include almost the entire opening chapter, comprising 15 pages, describing Simon's travels through the country towards London.The typescript is annotated "Original uncut text" on the title page. It is also signed with a copyright symbol and dated 1964 on the final page of text. There are minor authorial corrections identifying typing errors, a few spelling corrections, together with minor deletions, insertions, and substitutions. On page 62 the word "nut-case" has been underlined in red pen with a cross in the margin. A fe

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