Denton Welch Collection

Denton Welch (1915-1948), novelist and artist, was born in Shanghai, China, on 29 March 1915, the youngest of the three sons of Arthur Welch (d1942), a partner in the trading firm of Wattie & Co, and his American wife, Rosalind Bassett (d1926). The family was well-off, and travelled widely, and Welch had visited Korea, Canada, Switzerland and England by the age of ten. Welch's education was somewhat erratic. Initially this was at the hands of a governess. Then at the age of eight he was sent to a school for British children in Shanghai, unlike his brothers who had been packed off to prep schools in England. The next year, following a trip to England, he was sent to a Christian Scientist school in London, and at the age of eleven was sent to St Michaels, Uckfield, Sussex. Three years later he was sent to Repton, at which he was desperately unhappy and from which, at the age of sixteen, he ran away, taking himself to see Salisbury and Exeter cathedrals. Leaving Repton he determined to become an artist, and entered Goldsmiths School of Art in 1933.

On Sunday 9 June 1935 he was knocked off his bicycle on the London to Reigate road. Amongst his several injuries was a fractured spine. He was taken to Greenwich Hospital, and after four months to Southcourt Nursing Home at Broadstairs. During this time of having to learn to walk again, and having to cope as an invalid, he made a final break with Christian Science. He also continued painting and writing. Towards the end of 1939 he sold his first painting to the oil company Shell, and wrote an autobiographical novel, which was published in 1942 as Maiden Voyage. He also began writing the journal which he continued almost to the end of his life. In 1944 his second novel, In Youth is Pleasure, appeared, and Denton began living with Eric Oliver, the man with whom he spent the remaining four years of his life. He died at home in Kent on 30 December 1948.

Extent

Over 30 items.

Custodial History

Received as a bequest along with a number of manuscript items associated with Denton Welch (see EUL MS 123).

Scope and Content

Collection strengths

Includes copies of Denton Welch's published works, as well as critical and biographical books about the author. Amongst the titles are second hand book catalogues, first editions, copies of biographies and editions of the journals, poems and paperback editions.

Chronological emphasis

Twentieth century.

Evidence of research value

The collection supports use of the manuscripts relating to Denton Welch in EUL MS 123.

System of Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Accruals

Open. New titles about Denton Welch are occasionally added to this collection.

Access Conditions

Usual EUL Special Collections arrangements apply.

Reproduction Conditions

Usual EUL Special Collections arrangements apply.

Finding Aids

The collection is fully catalogued and entries appear on the University Library's online catalogue. Follow this link to browse online the items in the Welch Collection by performing a local classmark search on the catalogue.

Language

Mainly English.

Physical Characteristics

Some items in this collection are fragile and require careful handling. Restrictions on photocopying may apply.

Related Publications

Jocelyn Brooke (ed.), The Denton Welch Journals (London: H. Hamilton, 1973); Michael De-la-Noy, Denton Welch: the makings of a writer (Middlesex: Harmondsworth, 1984); James Methuen-Campbell, Denton Welch, writer & artist (Leyburn: Tartarus Press, 2002).

Subject Keywords

Welch, Denton -- 1915-1948 -- poet
Poetry, English -- 20th century
Fiction, English -- 20th century
Artists -- Great Britain -- 20th century
Painters -- England -- 20th century