In 2022 the British Archive for Contemporary Writing (BACW) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) was thrilled to receive a collection of carefully preserved original correspondence between Doris Lessing and Diana McVeagh. These frank and informal letters between first cousins are a wonderful addition to the vast personal archive of celebrated author Doris Lessing deposited at UEA. The letters were generously deposited by Diana McVeagh, herself an accomplished classical music author and expert on Gerald Finzi and Edward Elgar.
The collection, dating from c.1942 to 1989 contains photographs, cards, reminiscences and 27 letters between the authors. Cataloguing the collection took us on a fascinating journey through Lessing and McVeagh’s relationship. From glimpses of their childhoods, Lessing’s mother in sepia photographs and a handwritten letter to her niece “Are you going to be an author when you grow up? That was always Doris’ ambition” she asks McVeagh, who had won a prize in her school exam. The correspondence and accompanying memories, (written by McVeagh in 2013) meant untangling the family relationships required a carefully sketched family tree to keep track of name changes and the persons appearing in the letters.
The Lessing - McVeagh letters show cousins sharing publishing contacts, musical advice, attitudes towards their professions and sympathy during difficult times. Wonderfully the letters show the friendship between Lessing and McVeagh grow through the years giving a glimpse of both authors at ease, amongst friends. For more information on the Doris Lessing Collection and a catalogue visit www.uea.ac.uk/bacw/Lessing .
