Written by Helen Melody, Lead Curator of Contemporary Literary and Creative Archives.
The British Library has been residence to the P.G. Wodehouse archive since September 2016. It is a big assortment of 481 folders and volumes, which offers an actual perception into the life and work of the author, humourist and lyricist.
The archive incorporates materials referring to Wodehouse’s literary profession, his theatrical and cinematic work, the Second World War interval and his non-public life. Also included are papers referring to followers of Wodehouse, analysis and articles about his writing, occasions and commemorations organised after his demise, and variations of his work.
The archive is catalogued and extra data could be discovered by looking out the Archives and Manuscripts catalogue utilizing key phrases or the reference Loan MS 129. Anyone with a reader’s move can seek the advice of the archive within the Manuscripts studying room on the second flooring of the Library. Please see the Reader Registration pages of the Library’s web site for extra details about tips on how to register for a move if you don’t have already got one.
The Wodehouse archive is a useful resource for everybody however it may very well be notably helpful for anybody who’s planning to submit an entry for the worldwide Essay prize that has been launched by the P.G. Wodehouse Society (UK). The initiative was launched in late 2021 to mark the 140th anniversary of Wodehouse’s delivery and coincide with the 25th anniversary of the creation of the society in 2022. Two prizes of £1000 and £250 shall be awarded to the grownup and junior winners respectively by a judging panel that features Paula Byrne, Stephen Fry and Sophie Ratcliffe.
The prize is open to all. The judges ask that entries give attention to Wodehouse’s novels, tales, performs and journalism with the hope that they may throw scholarly new mild on elements of his writing.
Entries, which have to be authentic and beforehand unpublished, must be submitted to essayprize@pgwodehousesociety.org.uk by 12 midday BST on Wednesday 1 September 2022. Full particulars and Terms & Conditions could be discovered on the Society’s web site. Good luck to anybody who decides to enter.