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Series 4: Literary interests, 1873-1914

Deakin greatly admired writers, but his youthful ambition to excel in literature was never realised. This series contains his early attempts at prose and poetry, as well as some more mature writings.
There is a copy of Deakin's play Quentin Massys (1875) and his book Temple and tomb in India (1893), his Shakespearean notebook and 'Poets and poetry' notebooks, 1877-1878, draft material for 'Books and a boy', 1910, and 'The Gospel according to Wordsworth', together with the Brookes' typescript compilation of his poetry, some press clippings on literary subjects and other papers.
There are also papers relating to Australian poets and poetry, including letters from George Essex Evans, William Gay, Sydney Jephcott and other poets, in which they discuss their work and Deakin's comments on the poetry that they sent to him.
Further writings by Deakin on literature can be found in Series 3.
This series contains Items 4/1 - 4/870.

 

Subseries 4.1 Shakespearean notebook
Notes concerning the works of William Shakespeare. This subseries contains Item 4/1.
Subseries 4.2 Miscellaneous notes and commentaries on books and poetry
Manuscript and typescript notes, drafts and notebooks (2) by Deakin and others. This subseries contains Items 4/2 - 4/108.
Subseries 4.3 Quentin Massys(1875)
Copy of Deakin's Quentin Massys : a drama in five acts (1875), together with a letter and reader's report concerning its publication. This subseries contains Items 4/109 - 4/111.
Subseries 4.4 'Books and a boy', 1910
Typescript and annotated typescript draft material for 'Books and a boy', 1910, containing Deakin's reminiscences of his earliest reading, together with a program of a Brown Society meeting, 27 August 1910, at which Deakin spoke about the work. This subseries contains Items 4/112 - 4/403.
Subseries 4.5 'The Gospel according to Wordsworth'
Manuscript notebook, notes, and annotated typescript draft material. This subseries contains Items 4/404 - 4/581.
Subseries 4.6 Literary press clippings, c.1883-1912
Clippings from various Australian and overseas newspapers, including poems, literary articles, and so on. There are also typescripts of 'When are we old?' by Bruce Barton and 'Youth is eternal' by George E. Sokolsky. This subseries contains Items 4/582 - 4/634.
Subseries 4.7 Deakin's library
Correspondence, notes and a notebook, largely relating to the distribution of the books from Deakin's library following his death. This subseries contains Items 4/635 - 4/721.
Subseries 4.8 Australian poets, 1873-1914
Correspondence, press clippings and manuscript and typescript poems by various Australian poets, including O.C. Cabot, George Essex Evans, William Gay, Sydney Jephcott, Agnes H. Kearnan, Kenneth Mackay, Christabel Massey, W.L. Morffew, Professor J. Lawrence Rentoul and Arthur T. Woodward. There is also a photocopy of Deakin's poem 'In memorium', 1873. The original item is held in the Manuscript Collection at MS 3388. This subseries contains Items 4/722 - 4/857.
Subseries 4.9 'Poets and poetry' notebooks
Notes regarding the philosophy, history, science and art of poetry, and the part of the poet. This subseries contains Items 4/858 - 4/859, 4/862 - 4/869.
Subseries 4.10 Poems by Deakin
Typescript poems by Deakin, undated, compiled by Herbert and Ivy Brookes. This subseries contains Item 4/860.
Subseries 4.11 'First fruits volume II' notebook
Manuscript notebook (with only one page remaining) subtitled 'The unpruned products of a hasty tongue'. This subseries contains Item 4/861.
Subseries 4.12 Temple and tomb in India (1893)
Copy of Deakin's book Temple and tomb in India (1893). This subseries contains Item 4/870.
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