Letters and cards, 1964-2014 and undated, to Dannie Abse and to both Dannie and his wife Joan Abse, from family members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, publishers, literary agents and admirers, with topics largely relating to literary matters, including Dannie Abse's shortlisting for the 2013 T S Eliot Prize for his poetry collection Speak, Old Parrot (for which see under heading Poetry: Poetry anthologies: Poetry anthologies by/co-authored by Dannie Abse: Speak, Old Parrot (Hutchinson, 2013)). Correspondents include the poet Lynne Hjelmgaard, the companion of Abse's latter years; his brother Dr Wilfred Abse; his children Keren, Susanna and David; his mother Kate Abse; his uncle Dr Max Abse; poets Carol Ann Duffy, Robert Minhinnick, Gillian Clarke, Jeremy Robson, Fleur Adcock, Tony Curtis and Gwyneth Lewis. The correspondence also includes a notification from the Cabinet Office of Dannie Abse's nomination for Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 New Years Honours List and letters, 2013, from Paul Murphy MP relating to a proposed biography of Dannie Abse's brother, the socialist politician Leo Abse. Also included is a series of correspondence, 1978-1981, kept in an RAF file and annotated on front cover in Dannie Abse's hand: 'Personal File of Dr D Abse Re Lacon House Correspondence'; copies of correspondence, 1975, between Jeremy Morris of Robson Books Ltd, writer Ann Thwaite and writer, dramatist and critic Ronald Hayman relating to a proposed publication by Dannie Abse titled 'My Cambridge' (one letter annotated in Abse's hand); and an incomplete and undated postcard to 'Pat' in Dannie Abse's hand.
Kept separately in marked envelopes are a series of 70th (1993), 90th (2013), 91st (2014) and unspecified birthday cards, Christmas and New Year cards (2013) (with one undated Christmas card to unknown recipient(s) from Dannie and Joan Abse), anniversary card (1997), 'Get well' cards ([?2014]) and what appears to be a sympathy card, most likely on the occasion of Joan's death in 2005, sent to Dannie Abse (occasionally to both Dannie and Joan Abse or to Dannie and Lynne Hjelmgaard). Correspondents include Lynne Hjelmgaard, Dannie Abse's brother Wilfred, his daughters Keren and Susanna, his son David and his grandchildren Max, Marley and Larne.
Please note that correspondence is also included within other sections of this archive and that many of the correspondents are referenced within other sections of this archive.
For literary references (eg works by/edited by Dannie Abse) see under relevant headings within this archive. For correspondence relating to poetry/prose readings and talks given by Dannie Abse see under heading Readings, talks and lectures.
Framed ink drawing originally enclosed with letter, 12 November 2013, from Peter Ellison, kept in small wallet (within large box).
For the artist Milein Cosman see also under heading Correspondence: Correspondence of Joan Abse: Letters to Joan Abse from various correspondents and under heading Miscellanea: General miscellanea).