Conradi, Peter (fl 1980s): Additional material

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 2108 KUAS17
Held at	: Kingston University   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.kingston.ac.uk/informationservices/archives/archives_index.html ›
Full title	: Conradi, Peter (fl 1980s): Additional material
Date(s)	: [1980]-2006
Level of description	: collection
Extent	: 3 boxes and c 75 books
Name of creator(s)	: Conradi | Peter | fl 1980s | writer

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Peter Conradi worked as Iris Murdoch's authorised biographer and was co-executor of her estate. Conradi was a close friend of Murdoch and her husband, John Bayley, in the 1980s and 1990s. Conradi, a Professor of English, wrote his PhD on Murdoch's Platonism and edited her book of essays Existentialists and Mystics: Writings on Literature and Philosophy, published in 2007. Conradi published his autobiography of Murdoch in 2001, titled Iris Murdoch: A life, which was chosen as 'Book of the Year' by critics including Margaret Drabble and P D James.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Peter Conradi, comprise research material on Iris Murdoch, books including works by Murdoch and foreign language copies of Peter Conradi's biography and books by and about Elias Canetti. Papers notably include correspondence to Conradi notably from Michael [Bayley] (believed to be John Bayley's brother), [2003-2005]; Dr Marjorie Boulton concerning matters including Conradi's biography, c 2001-2006 and from Harper Collins Publishers discussing the sales of Iris Murdoch: Saint and Artist, 2003-2004. Papers also contain research notes including a draft forward to Conradi's Iris Murdoch: Saint and Artist with notations, c 1985; notebooks used by Conradi to record information about Murdoch for his biography and newspaper cuttings regarding Murdoch, including obituaries, 1995-2004.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in eight series: Letters received by Peter Conradi; letters to Conradi regarding the Iris Murdoch archive at Kingston University; Frank Thompson 'Selected Poems'; Iris Murdoch's visit to Kingston Polytechnic (now Kingston University); Peter Conradi's research notes; press cuttings; manuscripts; videos and ILL book collection (Iris Murdoch London Library).

Conditions governing access:

Open. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Contact archive for information concerning reproduction at archives@kingston.ac.uk.

Finding aids:

No additional finding aids currently exist.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Acquired in 2006.

Allied Materials

Related material:

KUAS6.

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Sources: Peter Conradi, Iris Murdoch (1919-1999) (Bernard Quaritch Ltd) and Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online. Entry compiled by Samantha Velumyl, AIM25 cataloguer.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
May 2008.