Guide to the Papers of David Foster [MSS 160]

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Manuscript Name Papers of David Foster
Manuscript Number MSS 160
Last Updated August 2021
Extent 4.02 m (30 boxes)
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract The papers of David Foster include correspondence, notes, research material, manuscript and typescript drafts, notebooks, audio cassettes and photographs. The collection documents a significant number of Foster's works, including novels, poetry, short stories, essays, radio dramas and several unpublished pieces.

Scope and Content

The papers of David Foster include correspondence, notes, research material, manuscript and typescript drafts, notebooks, audio cassettes and photographs. The collection documents a significant number of Foster's works, including novels, poetry, short stories, essays, radio dramas and several unpublished pieces.

There are drafts and working papers of Foster's major works, including North South West : three novellas (1973), Escape to reality (1977), Moonlite (1981), Plumbum (1983), Dog Rock : a postal pastoral (1985), The adventures of Christian Rosy Cross (1986), Testostero (1987), The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988), Hitting the wall: two novellas (1989), Self portraits: fifteen interviews with Australian writers conducted by Hazel de Berg (ed. 1991), Mates of Mars (1991), The glade within the grove (1996), The ballad of Erinungarah (1997), Studs and nogs : essays 1987-98 (1999) and In the new country (1999).

The correspondence reflects Foster's extensive writing and publishing activities during the period 1971-1991. The collection includes letters regarding his work from a number of significant literary figures. Among the correspondents are Alison Broinowski, Michael Costigan, Michael Duffy, Geoffrey Dutton, Beverley Farmer, Ross Fitzgerald, Dorothy Green, Carl Harrison-Ford, Nicholas Hasluck, Nancy Keesing, Susan McKernan, Eric Rolls, Thomas Shapcott, Brian Stonier, Ian Templeman, Patrick White and Tim Winton.

Date Range of Content

1971-2008

Organization

The series arrangement of this collection has been artificially created by Special Collections staff.

Biographical Note

David Manning Foster was born on 15 May 1944 in Katoomba, New South Wales. Born in the Blue Mountains to radio comedian parents, David Manning Foster studied Science at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1967 with the University Medal for Chemistry. Three years later he received his doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the Australian National University, and spent a year as a Fellow of the National Institute of Health in the United States in 1970. Foster then worked as a senior research scientist at the Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, 1971-1972, before retiring to begin writing full-time. He has also worked as a truck driver, postal worker, labourer, prawn trawler crewman, drummer and swimming pool manager.

His novels are satirical, frequently farcical and offer a cynical view of contemporary Australian culture and its postcolonial and imperial foundations. Nine of his novels have been nominated for the Miles Franklin Award and he has won many other prestigious prizes for his novels and poetry. A double black-belt in tae kwon do, Foster is an avid reader of classical literature; an influence clearly discernible in the mythical and literary allusions that can be found in much of his work.

Foster has won many prestigious prizes for his novels and poetry including:
The Courier-Mail Book of the Year Award, 1999: winner for In the new country
FAW Australian Literature Award, 1999: joint winner for In the new country
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, Single Work of Fiction, 1998: shortlisted for The glade within the grove
Miles Franklin Literary Award, 1997: winner for The Glade Within the Grove
James Joyce Foundation Suspended Sentence Award, 1996: winner for The glade within the grove
NBC Banjo Awards, NBC Banjo Award for Fiction, 1996: shortlisted for The glade within the grove
The Age Book of the Year Award, Fiction Prize, 1996: shortlisted for The glade within the grovee
National Book Council Award for Australian Literature, 1981: winner for Moonlite
FAW Barbara Ramsden Award for the Book of the Year, 1974: joint winner for The pure land
The Age Book of the Year Award, Imaginative Writing Prize, 1974: winner for The pure land
The Age Book of the Year Award, Book of the Year, 1974: joint winner for The pure land.

Foster's publications include:
North South West : three novellas (1973)
The pure land (1974)
The fleeing Atalanta (1975)
Escape to reality 1977, The empathy experiment (with D. K. Lyall, 1977)
Moonlite (1981)
Plumbum (1983)
Dog Rock : a postal pastoral (1985)
The adventures of Christian Rosy Cross (1986)
Testostero (1987)
The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988)
Hitting the wall: two novellas (1989)
Self portraits : fifteen interviews with Australian writers conducted by Hazel de Berg (ed. 1991)
Mates of Mars (1991)
Slab of Fosters (1994)
The glade within the grove (1996)
The ballad of Erinungarah (1997)
Studs and nogs : essays 1987-98 (1999)
In the new country (1999)
The land where stories end : as narrated by the angel depicted in Madonna con Bambino e due angeli by Filippo Lippi (2001)
A year of slow food : four seasons of growing and enjoying food in the Australian countryside, David and Gerda Foster ; photographs by Peter Solness (2002).

References:
AustLit : The Resource for Australian Literature, March 2003.

Administrative Information

Access

This collection is partly available for research, partly restricted and partly closed.

Restrictions on Use

No copying is permitted without the permission of the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Papers of David Foster, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, MSS 160, Series [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

The collection was acquired from David Foster in five instalments from 1990 to 2002.

Access Terms

Personal Names

Foster, David, 1944- -- Archives.

Topical Subjects

Authors, Australian -- 20th century -- Archives.

Australian literature -- 20th century.

Occupations

Authors

Series List and Descriptions

 

Series 1 Correspondence, 1971-2002

This series consists of two alphabetical sequences of correspondence files. Letters within each folder are arranged alphabetically according to correspondent or subject. There is also one folder of family correspondence, and two general correspondence folders.

This series is closed. The bulk of the correspondence consists of letters written to Foster, and generally concerns Foster's writing and publishing activities during the period 1971-1991. There are letters from editors, publishers and agents regarding publication of Foster's major works from North South West (1973) to Mates of Mars (1991). There is also correspondence with Andrew McLennan and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) regarding production of Foster's radio dramas.

Among the correspondents are such literary figures as Alison Broinowski, Michael Costigan, Michael Duffy, Beverley Farmer, Ross Fitzgerald, Dorothy Green, Carl Harrison-Ford, Nicholas Hasluck, Nancy Keesing, Susan McKernan, Eric Rolls, Thomas Shapcott, Brian Stonier, Ian Templeman, Patrick White and Tim Winton. There is also an extensive series of letters from Geoffrey Dutton, including editorial comments for many of Foster's writings.

Folder 1
A, 1977-1988

Including Adelaide Festival, Angus and Robertson, Antipodes, Articles Arts Management and Consultancy, Barry Oakley of The Australian, Australian Book Review, Australian Film Commission, Australian Independent Publisher's Association, Susan McKernan of the Australian National University, Australian Society of Authors and Australian Television and Radio School; together with a review by Foster of John Ellard's Some rules for killing people (1989)

Folder 2
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), 1975-1989

Folder 3
Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, 1974-1989

Including Michael Costigan, Sandra Forbes, Mark Hertzberg, Nancy Keesing, Thomas Shapcott and Irene Stevens

Folder 4
B, 1977-1989

Including Geoff Baker, Ian Bedford, Big City Press, Tom Bissinger, Ruth Blair, Damien Broderick, Alison Broinowski and Nigel Butterley

Folder 5
C, 1976-1989

Including Geoffrey Cains, Michael Casey, Collins Dove, Contemporary Authors, Copyright Agency, Currey O'Neil Ross and Tim Curnow of Curtis Brown

Folder 6
Rosemary Creswell Literary Agency, 1976-1989

Folder 7
D-E, 1981-1990

Including Helen Daniel, Department of Corrective Services, Stephen Murray-Smith of The Dictionary of Australian Quotations, Jeff Doyle, Michael Duffy and Elizabeth [?]

Folder 8
Geoffrey Dutton, 1971-1989

Folder 9
F-H, 1975-1989

Including Faber and Faber, John Fairfax and Sons, Ross Fitzgerald, James Fraser, Ian Templeman of Fremantle Arts Centre, Forum, Eric Glass Ltd, D. Graham, Dorothy Green, Lee Harding, Nicholas Hasluck, Susan Haynes and Julie Hunt

Folder 10
I-L, 1978-1989
Including The Illawara Mercury, Max Suich of The Independent Monthly, Guy Grant of International Sports Consultants, Nancy Keesing, Leonie Kramer, Gerard Lee and John Lewthwaite

Folder 11
M-N, 1975-1989
Including Martin [?], The Marten Bequest, Maximus Books, James McCarthy, Gaynor McGrath, Meanjin, Calvin Miller, Dennis Minogue, Mirror Australian Telegraph Publications, Dan Monte, Nation Review, National Library of Australia, The National Trust for Scotland, National Word Festival, New South Wales Film Corporation, Nimrod Theatre Company and Bill Noonan

Folder 12
Macmillan, 1972-1986
Including Geoffrey Dutton, Susan Haynes and Brian Stonier

Folder 13
O-P, 1975-1989
Including Office of the Minister for the Arts 1986 Writer's Fellowship, Bill O'Sullivan, Stephen Murray-Smith of Overland, Oxford University Press, Geoff Page, Pan Books, Claire Perry, John Poldy and the Public Lending Right Scheme

Folder 14
Penguin, 1983-1988

Folder 15
Q-R, 1974-1989
Including Quadrant, Fellowship of Australian Writers' Barbara Ramsden Award 1974, Ray [?], Rigby, Riverina College of Advanced Education, Les Robinson, Rodney [Hall?], Eric Rolls, The Rosicrucian Order, Routledge and Kegan Paul Books and Heather Rusden

Folder 16
S, 1976-1990
Including Gloria Safier, John Scott, Scripsi, Selma Shapiro, Michael Sissons, Heather Stanton, State Library of New South Wales, St James Press, Stoney Creek Films, J.R. Stow and the Sydney Theatre Company

Folder 17
T-U, 1983-1989
Including Tasmanian State Institute of Technology, Ian Templeman, University of New South Wales/Australian Defence Force Academy, University of Sydney and University of Western Australia

Folder 18
V-W, 1975-1988
Including Viking Penguin, Vogue, Gerard W., Arthur Walton, Warana Festival 88, John Webb, Patrick White, Wild and Woolley, Ursula Winant and Tim Winton

Folder 19
A, 1982-1991
Including Antipodes, Literature Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, The Australian, Australian Book Review, Colin Steele of the Australian National University, Australian Republican Movement and Australian Society of Authors

Folder 20
B-C, 1976-1991
Including Bruce Barclay, Leo Berkelouw, Jim Bernard, Geoffrey Blainey, Alison Broinowski, Bryan [?], Andrew Clegg, Collins Dove, Copyright Agency Ltd, Michael Cotter and The Currency Press

Folder 21
Rosemary Creswell Literary Agency, 1980-1991

Folder 22
Curtis Brown, 1975-1991

Folder 23
D-F, 1990-1991
Including Helen Daniel, Mickey Dewar, Geoffrey Dutton, Editions, Mac Evans, Heather F., Beverley Farmer and Ross Fitzgerald

Folder 24
G-H, 1990-1991
Including Guy Grant, Griffin Theatre Company, L.R. Hard, Nicholas Hasluck, Mark Hertzberg and Nancy Keesing, Barry Hill and W. Hyde

Folder 25
I-M, 1986-1991
Including Michael Duffy of The Independent Monthly, Island, Ursula Joussen, Clayton Joyce, Julie [Hunt?], Aidan Kelly, Kerryn Goldsworthy, Amanda Lohrey, Susan McKernan, Meanjin, Rose Molesworth, Mudgee Arts Council

Folder 26
N-R, 1981-1991
Including National Gallery of Victoria, Office of the Ombudsman, The Oral History Association of Australia, Bill O'Sullivan, Primavera Press, Public Lending Right Scheme, Andrew Riemer, Bruce Roberts, James Rolevink, Eric Rolls and Paul Rylance

Folder 27
Penguin, 1988-1991

Folder 28
S, 1990-1991
Including Alex Salewski, Paul Schaeter, Thomas Shapcott, Martin Smith, State Library of New South Wales, St James Press and Stout Research Centre

Folder 29
T-W, c. 1980s-1991

Including Tasmanian Writers Union, Ian Templeman, Lyn Tranter, Erica Travers, University of Sydney, University of Tasmania, Vincent [?], Warana Festival, John Webb and Michael Denholm of Writers at Tilleys

Folder 30
Family correspondence, 1980-1991

Including Robin Hodgson, Seth (son), Nat (daughter) and George Foster (father), together with a paper by Hodgson 'The evolution of Peppimenarti around the concept of an Aboriginal Cattle Station', 1987

Folder 31
General correspondence, 1983-1991

Including Carl Harrison-Ford, Dave Kain and Jacqueline Kent regarding Moonlite (1981), Plumbum (1983), Dog Rock (1985), The adventures of Christian Rosy Cross (1986), Testostero (1987), The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988) and Hitting the wall (1989)

Folder 32
General publishing correspondence, 1990-1991

Including Carl Harrison-Ford, Tim Curnow of Curtis Brown and Penguin Books regarding Mates of Mars (1991), and the National Library of Australia regarding Self portraits (1991)

Folder 33
General publishing correspondence, 1993-1997

Including Tim Curnow of Curtis Brown, Rose Creswell of Cameron Creswell, Jane Palfreyman of Random House, E. Annie Proulx, Peg McColl of Penguin Books Australia, Bettina Keil of Keil & Keil Literatur Agentur, Christopher Potter of Fourth Estate and Derek Johns of AP Watt Literary Agents

Folder 34
Correspondence with Susan Lever, 1978-2002

 

Series 2 Novels, 1973-1999

This series comprises notebooks, research material and manuscript and typescript drafts for North South West: three novellas (1973), Moonlite (1981), Plumbum (1983), Dog Rock: a postal pastoral (1985), The adventures of Christian Rosy Cross (1986), Testostero (1987), The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988), Hitting the wall: two novellas (1989), Mates of Mars (1991), The glade within the grove (1996) and In the new country (1999). There is also a typescript draft of Foster's unpublished novel 'Order from disorder'. The notes and notebooks reveal Foster's extensive preparation and meticulous research. The drafts are often extensively annotated by Foster, and include comments from such editors as Nicholas Jose and E. Annie Proulx.

Correspondence regarding the development, editing and publication of the novels from North South West to In the new country is included in Series 1. Papers relating to Foster's epic poem The ballad of Erinungarah (1997), the companion piece to The glade within the grove, are included in Series 6.

2.1 North South West: three novellas (1973)

Typescript draft of North South West, comprising the novellas 'North South West', 'Mobil medley' and 'Time's arrow'. This work was published by Macmillan, South Melbourne, Victoria, 1973.

Folder 1
Annotated typescript draft

2.2 Moonlite (1981)

Page proofs of the novel, which was published by Macmillan, South Melbourne, Victoria, 1973. Photographs relating to Moonlite are included in Series 13.

Folder 1
Page proofs from Macmillan, 303 p.

2.3 Plumbum (1983)

Notes, research material and typescript drafts for the novel, which was published by Penguin, Ringwood, Victoria, 1983.

Folder 1
Notebooks (9)

Folder 2-3
Research material including photocopied newspaper cuttings, together with notes and poems incorporated in the novel (the original newspaper cuttings are stored separately)

Folder 4
'Blackman Brothers Band' annotated typescript draft, 69 p.

Folder 5-8
Annotated typescript drafts and draft fragments

Folder 9
Typescript draft with proofreader's marks, 405 p.

Folder 10
Annotated typescript draft fragments; photocopied newspaper cuttings

2.4 Dog Rock: a postal pastoral (1985)

Notes, research material, typescript drafts and page proofs for the novel, which was published by Penguin, Ringwood, Victoria, 1985. Dog Rock is the first in a series of works featuring the character D'Arcy D'Oliveres, together with the novels The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988) and The glade within the grove (1996), and the epic poem The ballad of Erinungarah (1997).

Folder 1-3
Notes, notebooks (5) and research material

Folder 4
Annotated typescript first draft fragments

Folder 5
Page proofs from Penguin, 174 p.

2.5 The adventures of Christian Rosy Cross (1986)

Typescript drafts and page proofs of the novel, which was published by King Penguin, Ringwood, Victoria, 1986. The radio drama version of the novel was produced by Rodney Wetherell for ABC Radio Helicon, 1986.

Folder 1-4
Annotated typescript and typescript photocopy drafts (3)

Folder 5
Page proofs from Penguin, 166 p.

Folder 6
'The adventures of Christian Rosy Cross' typescript of the radio drama version, produced by Rodney Wetherell for ABC Radio Helicon, 1985, together with notes

2.6 Testostero (1987)

Notes, research material, typescript drafts and page proofs for the novel, which was published by Penguin, Ringwood, Victoria, 1987. Parts of this novel were derived from the radio drama 'Water on the brain' and the unpublished drama 'Antipodeans', drafts of which are included in Series 4.

Folder 1
Notebook, notes and research material (a large map, 'The Alps', is stored separately)

Folder 2
'Poles apart' annotated typescript first draft, 241 p.

Folder 3
Annotated typescript second draft, 215 p.

Folder 4
Typescript draft photocopy, 215 p., and fragment, 39 p.

Folder 5
Page proofs, 215 p.

2.7 The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988)

Notes and typescript drafts for the novel, which was published by Penguin, Ringwood, Victoria, 1988. This novel is the second in a series of works featuring the character D'Arcy D'Oliveres, together with Dog Rock: a postal pastoral (1985), The glade within the grove (1996) and The ballad of Erinungarah (1997).

Folder 1-2
Notebooks (2), notes and research material

Folder 3-4
Annotated typescript first draft, 137 p., and second draft, 143 p.

Folder 5
Typescript and typescript photocopy draft with editorial notes, 143 p.

2.8 Hitting the wall: two novellas (1989)

Typescript drafts of the work, comprising the novellas 'Eyes of the bull' and 'The job', published by Penguin, Ringwood, Victoria, 1989. 'The job' was previously published in Foster's short story collection Escape to reality (1977). A photograph of the cover art for Hitting the wall is included in Series 6.

Folder 1-2
'Eye of the bull' (previous title 'The wager') annotated typescript first and second drafts

Folder 3
'Eye of the bull' typescript draft photocopy with copy-editor's notes; 'The job' photocopy taken from Escape to reality (1977), p. 70-148, with copy-editor's notes

2.9 Mates of Mars (1991)

Notes and manuscript and typescript drafts for the novel, which was published by Penguin, Ringwood, Victoria, 1991.

Folder 1-2
Notes; 'The way of kicking and punching' typescript essay submitted by Foster to the Australian Taekwondo Association; pamphlets, magazines and photocopies of newspaper cuttings (the original newspaper cuttings are stored separately)

Folder 3
Notebooks (7); notes; manuscript draft fragment

Folder 4
'Warriors way' annotated manuscript and typescript draft

Folder 5-7
Annotated typescript and typescript photocopy drafts (3)

2.10 The glade within the grove (1996)

Notes, editorial material and manuscript and typescript drafts for the novel, which was published by Random House Australia, Milsons Point, NSW, 1996. Foster's epic poem The ballad of Erinungarah (1997) was written as a companion piece to this novel. These works form part of a series featuring the character D'Arcy D'Oliveres, together with the novels Dog Rock: a postal pastoral (1985) and The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988). Folder 12 is restricted until November 2006.

Folder 1
Notebooks (17)

Folder 2
Extensively annotated daily manuscript draft

Folder 3-4
Additional annotated manuscript and typescript early draft material, including 'Excerpt from Erinungarah' annotated typescript, 19 p.

Folder 5
Extensively annotated typescript working first draft, 495 p.

Folder 6-7
Typescript first draft with minor annotations by Foster and Nicholas Jose, the novel's first editor, 764 p.

Folder 8-9
Typescript second draft photocopy, with Foster's annotated footnotes, 'To be further edited by E. Annie Proulx, as typeset by Random House Australia', p. 9, 11-13, 21-29, 42-735

Folder 10-11
Annotated typescript final draft photocopy, p. 1-102, 104-451, 453-796

Folder 12
Additional editorial material, comprising a reader's report by Nicholas Jose (missing p. 5 and 6), editorial comments by E. Annie Proulx, Foster's letter of response to Proulx, 1995, copy editing remarks by Roger Milliss, 'Erinungarah' map and photocopies of newspaper cuttings

Folder 13
Annotated typescript draft of Annie Proulx's launch speech; extract published in Australian book review ; Fourth Estate book catalogue of new titles; bookmark,1996

2.11 'Order from disorder' [nd]

Typescript draft of Foster's unpublished novel 'Order from disorder'.

Folder 1
Typescript draft, 129 p.

2.12 In the new country (1999)

Notebooks, notes, research material, typescript drafts and reviews for the novel, which was published by Fourth Estate, London, England 1999.

Folder 1
Notebooks (5), 1997-1998

Folder 2
Research material including photocopied newspaper cuttings and copies of magazines, 1997-1998

Folder 3
Working pencil manuscript first draft with black ink annotations, 114 p., 1997

Folder 4
Working computer typescript draft with black and blue ink annotations, 188 p., 1998

Folder 5
Annotated computer typescript draft, 190 p., edited by Christopher Potter of Fourth Estate; editorial notes written by Foster after a discussion with Potter, 1998

Folder 6
Annotated penultimate computer typescript draft, 206 p., with changes from the copy editor and desk editor, 1998

Folder 7
Annotated final computer typescript draft, 208 p., with author's final changes and Potter's final remarks, 1998

Folder 8
Fourth Estate catalogues (2), 1999-2000

 

Series 3 Short Stories, c. 1980-1991

Manuscript and typescript drafts and journals and newspaper cuttings of published and unpublished short stories by Foster including 'The elixir operon', 'Why creativity declines with age', 'Where none pursueth', 'The token of the covenant', 'A beast without two backs', 'Tunnelling into the free flown fact', 'Ed the head - Manson of the mangroves' and 'Bananas : prawning in the gulf', published in An Anthology of Australian fishing (1991) edited by Eric Rolls, and published journal and newspaper versions of short stories including four from Escape to reality, which was published by Macmillan, South Melbourne in 1977.

'The elixir operon', adapted from a radio drama first produced by Foster and Andrew McClennan in 1980, was published in Strange attractors: original Australian speculative fiction (1985) edited by Damien Broderick. The series also includes a typescript draft review by Foster of The Kadaitcha sung (1990) by Sam Watson.

Folder 1
'Why creativity declines with age' annotated typescript draft, [c. 1980-1984] and newspaper clipping; 'Where none pursueth' manuscript draft, 1 p., typescript draft, 8 p. and newspaper clipping, [c. 1980-1984]

Folder 2
'The elixir operon' manuscript draft; annotated typescript drafts (2); typescript photocopy of the radio drama version produced with Andrew McLennan for ABC Radio (1980)

Folder 3
'The token of the covenant' typescript draft, 52 p; Understanding women [nd] booklet by Jim Bernard; typescript draft review by Foster of The Kadaitcha sung (1990) by Sam Watson

Folder 4
Published journal versions of four short stories from Escape to reality, including 'The longest milkrun in the world', 'Murray River breakdown', 'Green Dolphin street' and 'Going about', 1974-1975

Folder 5
Annotated typescript photocopy of 'Bananas : prawning in the gulf ', published in An Anthology of Australian fishing (1991) edited by Eric Rolls; published journal and newspaper versions of short stories including 'A beast without two backs', 'Tunnelling into the free flown fact' and 'Ed the head - Manson of the mangroves', 1975-1991

 

Series 4 Dramas, 1977-c. 1986

Manuscript and typescript drafts of radio dramas including 'Water on the brain', 'As it was', 'Knight's move' and 'Bananas'. These radio dramas were produced by Foster and Andrew McLennan for ABC Radio from 1977 to 1990. There are also drafts of two abandoned radio dramas, 'Anti-gravity machine' and 'QF 7', an unpublished radio drama 'Antipodeans', and an unpublished stage drama based on the novel Dog rock . Audio cassettes featuring readings of 'Water on the brain', 'As it was' and 'Knight's move' are included in Series 12.

Folder 1
'Wet dream' (produced as 'Water on the brain', 1977) annotated typescript and typescript photocopy drafts (3)

Folder 2
'As it was' (1981) manuscript draft; 'Knight's move' (1983) typescript draft photocopy, 59 p.

Folder 3
'Bananas' (c. 1990) annotated typescript and typescript photocopy drafts (2); notes regarding music, 2 p.

Folder 4
'Anti-gravity machine' (abandoned radio drama) annotated typescript draft, 46 p.; photocopies of several book reviews

Folder 5
'QF 7' (abandoned radio drama) annotated typescript draft, 60 p.; notes and research material

Folder 6
'Antipodeans' (unpublished drama) manuscript draft, annotated typescript draft photocopies (3)

Folder 7
Typescript of 'Knight's move', shortlisted for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Prix Italia Drama Award, 1983, 54 p. (2) combined English/French version, 1983

Folder 8
Annotated photocopy typescript draft adapted by Foster of an unproduced play based on Dog rock, 66 p., written for Drew Forsythe, c. 1986

 

Series 5 Anthologies, 1991

Notes, research material and manuscript and typescript drafts of Foster's introduction for Self portraits, an anthology of oral history interviews selected by Foster, and published by the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 1991. The transcripts are from the Hazel de Berg oral history recordings held by the National Library.

Self portraits: fifteen interviews with Australian writers conducted by Hazel de Berg (1991)

Folder 1
Notes; research material; 'Introduction' manuscript and typescript drafts

 

Series 6 Poetry, 1988-1997

This series comprises editorial material, typescript drafts and page proofs for The ballad of Erinungarah, which was published by Random House Australia, Milsons Point, NSW, 1997. There are also three newspaper cuttings of poems and three typescripts of unpublished poems, two of which 'Judgement' and 'Song for Solomon' are the only surviving pieces from a collection of sixty lyrics, later destroyed by Foster.

6.1, The ballad of Erinungarah (1997)

The epic poem is a companion piece to Foster's novel The glade within the grove (1996). Together with the novels Dog Rock: a postal pastoral (1985) and The pale blue crochet coathanger cover (1988), these works form part of a series featuring the character D'Arcy D'Oliveres.

Folder 1
Thomas Shapcott's editorial comments, 11 p.; Foster's letter of response to Shapcott, 2 p.; annotated draft typescript photocopy, 109 p.

Folder 2-3
Annotated page proofs (2 sets)

6.2, Miscellaneous Poetry

Newspaper cuttings of poems and three typescripts of unpublished poems, two of which 'Judgement' and 'Song for Solomon' are the only surviving pieces from a collection of sixty lyrics, later destroyed by Foster.

Folder 1
Three newspaper cuttings of poems and three typescripts of unpublished poems, 1988-1990

Including newspaper cuttings of 'KLIMT : for Rita', 'Currawong', 'Moon and sea for Gerda', typescript draft of 'Thoughts to Bobbi', photocopy typescript drafts of 'Judgement' and 'Song for Solomon'

 

Series 7 Essays, 1987-1998

This series comprises published and unpublished essays and editorial material, manuscript and typescript drafts, published versions of essays in anthologies, journals and newspapers. Correspondence relating to this series is included in Series 1.

7.1, Studs and nogs : essays 1987-98 (1999)

Research material and manuscript and typescript drafts, published versions of essays in journals and newspapers for Studs and nogs : essays 1987-98, which was published by Random House, Milsons Point, NSW, 1999.

Folder 1-3
Manuscript and typescript drafts, published versions of essays in journals and newspapers; editorial notes, 1986-1998

7.2, Miscellaneous Essays, 1990-1992

Manuscript and typescript drafts, published versions of essays in journals and newspapers, and drafts of unpublished essays by Foster.

Folder 1
Manuscript and annotated typescript and photocopy typescript drafts of essays published in journals, 1989-1992

Folder 2
Published versions of essays in anthologies including The great literacy debate : English in contemporary Australia (1992) edited by David Myers and Toads : Australian writers : other work, other lives (1992) edited by Andrew Sant

Folder 3
Annotated typescript drafts of unpublished essays, 1988-1990

 

Series 8 Other Prose, 1968-1987

This series comprises published reprints from journals of various scientific articles co-authored by Foster, a book review and a lecture by Foster.

Folder 1
Published reprints of scientific papers co-authored by Foster (12); newspaper review by Foster of Mark Salzman's Iron and silk ; typescript of a lecture by Foster entitled 'Australia : 2002', 19 p. April 2002, 1968-2002

 

Series 9 Reviews, 1974-1999

Newspaper cuttings and journals containing reviews of works by Foster.

Folder 1
Reviews, 1974-1977

Including The pure land, Escape to reality and The empathy experiment (with D.K. Lyall)

Folder 2
Reviews of Moonlite, 1981

Folder 3
Reviews of Plumbum, 1983

Folder 4
Reviews of Dog Rock : a postal pastoral, 1985

Folder 5
Reviews of The adventures of Christian Rosy Cross, 1986

Folder 6
Reviews, 1987-1989

Including Testostero, The pale blue crochet coathanger cover and Hitting the wall : two novellas

Folder 7
Reviews of Mates of Mars, 1991

Folder 8-9
Reviews of The glade within the grove, 1996

Folder 10
Reviews of The ballad of Erinungarah, 1997

Folder 11
Reviews of Studs and nogs : essays 1987-98, 1999

Folder 12
Reviews of In the new country, 1999

Folder 13
Radio reviews, 1983

Including 'Knight's move' and 'The elixir operon'

 

Series 10 Writings re Foster, 1981-2008

This series includes journals and newspaper cuttings of interviews with Foster, together with criticisms, articles and other writings regarding Foster and his work.

Folder 1-2
Cuttings and journals of interviews with Foster, 1981-1999

Folder 3
Criticisms regarding Foster's work, 1982-1998

Folder 4
Articles regarding Foster's work, 1978-1997

Folder 5
Cuttings of articles re Foster's receipt of various awards, 1984-1996

Including Australian Council for the Arts Literary Fellowship (1984), Australian Artists' Creative Fellowship (known as the Keating Fellowships) (1992) and the James Joyce Suspended Sentence award (1996)

Folder 6
Australian press cuttings regarding the 1997 Miles Franklin Award, 1997

Folder 7
David Foster : the satirist of Australia, by Susan Lever; published by Cambria Press, Youngstown, N.Y., 2008, 2005-2008

Including:
Correspondence including emails from Foster to Lever, together with copies of articles by Foster, 2005-2008
Correspondence and typescript draft with annotations by David Foster, 21 June 2006, various pagings
Annotated draft of Jeff Doyle's book launch speech, Academy Library, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, 5 June 2008, 11 p.

 

Series 11 Miscellaneous Papers, 1983-1997

This small series comprises cuttings and photocopies of articles collected by Foster on various topics. Photographs relating to this series are located in Series 13.

Folder 1
Article by Rosemary Sorensen entitled 'You be the judge'; typescript of poetry translations and typescript of 'New York nowhere' by Geoffrey Dutton; photocopy of an article by Jacqueline Kent entitled 'Out of the Bakelite box : the heyday of Australian radio'; news cutting of the Sydney launch by David Marr of Yellow Press,1983-1997

 

Series 12 Audio Cassettes, c. 1977-1999

This series comprises audio cassettes featuring readings of Foster's radio dramas 'Knight's move', 'The elixir operon', 'As it was', 'Water on the brain', 'Bananas' and 'Hugo's Turkish travel pack', together with radio interviews of Foster and a reading by him for the Friends of the ADFA Library. Manuscripts relating to the radio dramas are included in Series 4.

Folder 1-11
'Knight's move' (2 cassettes)
'The elixir operon' (2 cassettes)
'As it was' (2 cassettes)
'Water on the brain' (4 cassettes)
'Bananas' (1 cassette)
'Hugo's Turkish travel pack' (1 cassette)
David Foster reading at ADFA for the Friends of the ADFA Library, 26 June 1997 (1 cassette)
ABC Radio National interviews with Foster for 'Books and writing', 1996-1999 (3 cassettes)
Radio interview with 2BL, 25/3/1999 (1 cassette)
Radio interview for 'Booktalk', 2/3/1996 and 5/3/1996 (1 cassette)

 

Series 13 Photographs, c. 1981-1996

This series comprises colour photographs relating to Foster's novels Moonlite (1981) and Hitting the wall (1989), together with a colour photograph of Robin Lucas, black and white photographs of the Sydney launch of Yellow Press and colour photographs of the James Joyce Suspended Sentence Award.

Folder 1
Photograph used for Moonlite, p. iv, featuring Foster at Hill End, Australia
Photograph used for Moonlite, p. iv, featuring Foster at St. Kilda, United Kingdom
Photographs (2) of Moonlite cover rough and cover art
Photograph of Hitting the wall cover art
Photograph of Robin Lucas, Glass House Mountains, Queensland, from Geoffrey Dutton, April 1990
Photographs (4) of the Sydney launch by David Marr of Yellow Press, Michael Duffy's first publishing venture, 1994
Photographs (2) of the James Joyce Suspended Sentence Award 1996