The Wilson Harris Collection
Item
Title of collection or material
The Wilson Harris Collection
Significant contributors
Creation dates
1960-1997
Source institution
General notes
The Wilson Harris collection includes handwritten manuscripts, typescripts, page proofs, and reviews for several of his books, as well as correspondence.
Content notes
The Wilson Harris collection includes handwritten manuscripts, typescripts, page proofs, and reviews for several of his books, as well as correspondence, primarily letters written by Harris to Michael Thorpe. The collection is organized in three series: Series I. Works, 1968-1993, undated; Series II. Reviews, 1960-1990; and Series III. Correspondence, 1978-1997.
The Works series is arranged alphabetically by title. Most works are represented by handwritten drafts in notebooks, composite typescript and handwritten manuscripts, final typescripts, and page proofs. Among the works present are The Age of the Rainmakers (1971), The Angel at the Gate (1982), Ascent to Omai (1970), Black Marsden (1972), Carnival (1985), Companions of the Day and Night (1975), The Four Banks of the River of Space (1990), The Infinite Rehearsal (1987), Jonestown (1996), Resurrection at Sorrow Hill (1993), and The Sleepers of Roraima (1970). In addition, there is a photocopy of the published essay Harris wrote for Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series in 1992. Many of the manuscripts include Harris’s notes or annotations explaining his creative process, or what he referred to as the “re-visionary process.” For example, page proofs for Angel at the Gate and Carnival contain his annotations referring to other drafts of those works. Harris included a photocopy of his article "Literacy and the Imagination" with Carnival materials since he felt it illumined a strand regarding inner guide-lines, or intuitive clues.
Series II. Reviews consists of clippings of reviews of works by Harris, as well as a 1960 radio transcript of John Connell’s review of Palace of the Peacock.
Series III. Correspondence is comprised of Harris’s letters to poet and literary critic Michael Thorpe; the letters date from 1978 to 1997.
The Works series is arranged alphabetically by title. Most works are represented by handwritten drafts in notebooks, composite typescript and handwritten manuscripts, final typescripts, and page proofs. Among the works present are The Age of the Rainmakers (1971), The Angel at the Gate (1982), Ascent to Omai (1970), Black Marsden (1972), Carnival (1985), Companions of the Day and Night (1975), The Four Banks of the River of Space (1990), The Infinite Rehearsal (1987), Jonestown (1996), Resurrection at Sorrow Hill (1993), and The Sleepers of Roraima (1970). In addition, there is a photocopy of the published essay Harris wrote for Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series in 1992. Many of the manuscripts include Harris’s notes or annotations explaining his creative process, or what he referred to as the “re-visionary process.” For example, page proofs for Angel at the Gate and Carnival contain his annotations referring to other drafts of those works. Harris included a photocopy of his article "Literacy and the Imagination" with Carnival materials since he felt it illumined a strand regarding inner guide-lines, or intuitive clues.
Series II. Reviews consists of clippings of reviews of works by Harris, as well as a 1960 radio transcript of John Connell’s review of Palace of the Peacock.
Series III. Correspondence is comprised of Harris’s letters to poet and literary critic Michael Thorpe; the letters date from 1978 to 1997.
Extent
4.62 linear feet
Language
Call number
TXRC07-A4