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Papers of author and academic Dr John Pikoulis, almost all of which relate to his research into the life of Second World War Anglo-Welsh poet Alun Lewis (1915-1944) in the course of editing his anthology of Lewis's works Alun Lewis: A Miscellany of his Writings (Poetry Wales Press, 1982) and of compiling his two memoirs Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984, 2nd ed. 1991) and Alun, Gweno and Freda (Seren Books, 2015), the latter focusing on Lewis's relationship with his wife Gweno and with Freda Aykroyd, his mistress and muse whilst he was on active service in India from 1942 to 1944, the 'central feature' of the collection - as expresssed by Pikoulis in his accompanying note - being the voluminous correspondence between Pikoulis and Freda Aykroyd, which spans over three decades and provides an eloquent and heartfelt account of Aykroyd's brief but passionate relationship with Lewis. The archive comprises correspondence between John Pikoulis and members of Lewis's circle of family, friends and acquaintances and with Lewis's military and work/academic colleagues, as well as correspondence with individuals who had no direct acquaintance with Alun Lewis but who contributed to Pikoulis's research and correspondence between Pikoulis and his publishers Poetry Wales Press/Seren Books regarding publication of Alun Lewis: A Life (1984) and Alun, Gweno and Freda (2015); notes taken during interviews conducted by John Pikoulis with Lewis's family, friends and colleagues, together with Pikoulis's own biographical notes on Alun Lewis; photocopied and transcribed poetry, prose and correspondence of Alun Lewis; Pikoulis's general research material comprising press cuttings, articles and other material relating to Alun Lewis and to others of the 'war poets', which includes commemorative poetry following Lewis's death and material relating to the centenary of Lewis's birth; and other papers of family, friends and colleagues of Alun Lewis which directly relate to Lewis, including responses to queries from Pikoulis or to Pikoulis's published works on Alun Lewis.
The archive also includes a small amount of material not directly related to John Pikoulis's research into the life and work of Alun Lewis, but which nevertheless was in the possession of or had been obtained by Pikoulis during his period of research.

A sheet of typescript notes by John Pikoulis, kept in Box 1 of the collection, comprises background information to this archive.

Many of the individuals mentioned within the archive - for example, correspondents of John Pikoulis - may be found via the index in John Pikoulis: Alun Lewis: A Life (Poetry Wales Press, 1984).

Many names are cross-referenced throughout the archive, particularly within correspondence.

CONTENT WARNING: Researchers are advised that suicide and suicidal motives are discussed within this archive.

Research papers, 1931-1985, accumulated by Dr Alun John while preparing 'The Life and Works of Alun Lewis', consisting mainly of photocopies of short stories, articles and reviews relating to Alun Lewis, including published articles and reviews by Lewis, [1930x1944]; short stories and poetry published in The Ludovican, The Dragon and The Serpent, [c. 1933]-1938; reviews of Ha! Ha! Among the Trumpets (1945) and Letters from India (1946); papers relating to events commemorating the 70th anniversary of Lewis's birth, 1985; correspondence of Dr John relating to Lewis, 1969-1972; articles, cuttings and radio scripts concerning Lewis, 1954-1970; group photographs, 1931; and a copy of Alun Lewis: A Bibliography (Frankfurt, 1986), compiled by Ulrich Schäefer.

Twenty-two letters, 1957-1958, to George Ewart Evans as editor of the revised edition of Welsh Short Stories (London, 1959), from authors or their representatives, relating to prospective stories for the volume.
The authors include Glyn Daniel, 10 July 1957, [1957x1958] (ff. 1-2), Rhys Davies, May-July 1957 (ff. 4-5), Islwyn Ffowc Elis, May-June 1957 (ff. 6-7), Nigel Heseltine, 11 April 1958 (f. 8), Emyr Humphreys, 13 January 1958 (f. 10), Glyn [Jones], 3 January 1958 (ff. 11-12), Gwyn Jones, May-July 1957 (ff. 13-14), Roland Mathias, 1 July 1957 (f. 16), Idris Parry, 18 May 1957 (f. 18), Alun Richards, 19 January 1958 (f. 19), and Aled Vaughan, 11 June [?1958] (f. 22). There are also letters from David Higham, 9 July 1958, representing Margiad Evans (f. 9), Gweno Lewis, [1957x1958], widow of Alun Lewis (f. 15), and Paul Scott, March-April 1958, representing Cledwyn Hughes (ff. 20-21).

Letter, dated 27 September 1971, from Mrs Gwladys E. Lewis to the Reverend D. Jacob Davies inserted within a signed copy of her work, Alun Lewis, my son (Aberystwyth, [?1971]); together with an undated photograph of the Alun Lewis memorial plaque at Aberdare Library, and a note, in Welsh, by the donors providing background information about the letter. = Llythyr, dyddiedig 27 Medi 1971, oddi wrth Mrs Gwladys E. Lewis at y Parchedig D. Jacob Davies, wedi ei osod o fewn copi a lofnodwyd ganddi o'i gwaith, Alun Lewis, my son (Aberystwyth, [?1971]); ynghyd â ffotograff heb ei ddyddio o gofeb Alun Lewis yn Llyfrgell Aberdâr, a nodyn gan y rhoddwyr yn esbonio cefndir y llythyr.