Forgotten author’s literary papers acquired by University’s Special Collections
The literary estate of a ‘forgotten’ queer author is to be preserved and showcased thanks to the Special Collections at the University of Exeter.
Typed manuscripts of novels and drafts of those that never reached print have been placed with the University so that it can safeguard the legacy of Mariana Villa-Gilbert.
Villa-Gilbert published six books during the 1960s and 70s and gained a cult following among the lesbian press, most notably for her novel A Jingle-Jangle Song.
But after she published a collection of short stories in 1986, she moved to Cornwall and retreated from public view.
The papers have been donated to the Special Collections by a playwright and scholar Dr Christopher Adams who inherited them in 2023.
“Having the papers here at Exeter, alongside other distinguished archives, will help to elevate Villa-Gilbert in the common literary imagination,” said Dr D-M Withers, Lecturer in Publishing in the Department of English and Creative Writing and Director of Lurid Editions, who will publish A Jingle-Jangle Song next year. “It’s an exciting moment to re-energise her legacy, to, indeed, give her a legacy. And crucially, it means her work will be accessible again, opening the possibility that it might be published again in the future.”
Mariana Villa-Gilbert was born in 1937 in Croydon, South London, but spent her early life in Devon. After the death of her father, she moved with her mother to Poland, but was neglected along with her sister and had to be returned to Britain on humanitarian grounds by the British Embassy.
Despite studying art and sculpture, Villa-Gilbert wanted to be a writer, and she published six novels with Chatto & Windus, with arguably the most celebrated being her fourth, A Jingle Jangle Song.
“Buried in the archives for far too long, A Jingle-Jangle Song is the lost queer novel of the late 1960s,” Dr Withers said. “Eccentric, atmospheric, driven by a propulsive plot, the novel is a celebration of the unexpected eruption of queer desire. It is astonishing to me that it is not a firm part of the queer literary canon. It throbs with life, and energy.”
Villa-Gilbert’s literary estate was inherited by playwright and scholar Dr Adams after the pair had met during his PhD research on post-war queer publishing history. With no other obvious heir, Villa-Gilbert entrusted Adams with her legacy.
When Dr Adams collaborated with Dr Withers for the forthcoming Lurid Editions reprint of A Jingle Jangle Song, they agreed to place the estate with the Special Collections.
“Though she largely stopped publishing by the 1970s, she continued to write – undaunted – throughout her life,” said Dr Adams. “I am so pleased that the University of Exeter will be the permanent repository for her papers, including drafts of her published novels as well as many unpublished short stories, novels, poetry collections, and a play.”
The collection of literary papers includes typescript drafts of her works – novels, poetry and one play – as well as correspondence from literary agencies and publishers. They are now in good company, as they will take their place alongside numerous literary jewels, including the papers of Daphne du Maurier, William Golding and the Agatha Christie Business archive – arguably the most successful publishing business of all time.
The Special Collections, along with the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum teams, manage the University’s unique and distinct collections of archives, rare books, film memorabilia and objects. They are used extensively by the University for teaching and research, and are made available to regional, national and international institutions, engaging in outreach and collaborative projects which benefit both the institution and the wider community.
Caroline Walter, Head of Heritage Collections at Special Collections, said: “This archive will serve as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the literary culture of the Southwest or the history of British LGBTQ+ writing.”
