32 items, comprising seventeen TLS, the original publishing contract, two reader's reports and twelve carbons. Including: initial approach letter from Orwell's agent Leonard Moore introducing the author and his "unusual manuscript approximating in its nature to that of a bestseller"; two readers' reports, one highly complimentary and "absolutely convinced by its genuineness" but warning of libel, the other less enthusiastic; letters between Gollancz and his lawyer and between Moore and Gollancz concerning libel and changes made to the text by the author, with Gollancz noting "This is an extraordinary and important book. It is also full of possibilities for libel"; letter from Moore to Gollancz negotiating improved terms; the original contract signed by Orwell for publication of the book under the title "Days in London and Paris"; correspondence regarding the Orwell pseudonym, including a request for information on that subject from The Times; an intemperate exchange of letters and legal threats between Gollancz and a correspondent who claimed the book insulted Jews; correspondence concerning Gollancz's rescinding rights to the book in Dec 1938; later correspondence between Sonia Orwell and Gollancz concerning the Penguin edition, 1965; correspondence between Penguin and Gollancz in 1972, in which the latter admits they no longer possess the original manuscript or proofs.

A comprehensive archive of correspondence between Eric Blair, his publisher Victor Gollancz, his agent Leonard Moore and Gollancz's lawyer Harold Rubenstein relating to the publication of Orwell's first book Down And Out In Paris And London.
Accordingly the earliest item in the archive is Leonard Moore's introductory letter enclosing the manuscript of what was then called Days In London And Paris, which introduces Orwell as a potential bestselling author and commending Gollancz to give the work his "special consideration".
Equally important to the decision to publish Orwell is the first reader's report from the publisher, present here, which is emphatic in its argument that the book is "an extraordinarily forceful and socially important document", and even more importantly captures for the first time the crucial phrase "down and out".
Different potential titles are touted by Orwell through his agent and in return by Gollancz, and also recorded here is the correspondence that confirms Eric Blair's use of George Orwell as his pseudonym.
The archive also contains post-publication material, including a heated exchanged between Gollancz and one S. M. Lipsey, with the latter alledging that passages and remarks in the novel are anti-Semitic, something Gollancz strongly rebuffs.
Taken as a whole, the archive reveals the network of individuals crucial to getting Orwell's debut published and records the trials of getting the book to print.

Stock ID: 39394