English literature: special collections and archives

All of these collections are held at the University's Special Collections Service on Redlands Road. For more information about viewing these collections see the Special Collections website.

The Finzi Collection

The Finzi Book Room is a special collection of literature brought together by the composer Gerald Finzi. The collection consists predominantly of British poetry from all periods up to the mid 1970s. A catalogue to the collection The Finzi Book Room at the University of Reading is available at 3rd Floor Reference--820.16-DIN.

The Children's Collection

The Children's Collection is particularly strong in 19th and early 20th century children's literature. The Catalogue of the collection of children's books, 1617-1939, in the University of Reading is available at 028.52-CAI.

The Beckett Collection

The Beckett Collection is a substantial collection of original manuscripts, books and other material relating to Samuel Beckett. Much of the collection was donated by Beckett himself before his death.

Records of British publishing and printing

The Records of British publishing and printing is made up of two sections: correspondence and other material from the archives of a number of prominent publishing houses; and the Records of Contemporary Writing, consisting of original manuscripts of a wide range of writers - many of them in the first rank - from the 1890s to date.

Other collections relating to English literature

The University also holds the Shelley Collection of Geoffrey Matthews, the internationally respected Shelley scholar, and the Wain Collection, comprising the complete published output of the poet, critic and novelist John Wain. Further information about these collections and access arrangements is available on the Special Collections website.

The Library of the Museum of English Rural Life contains some interesting examples of rural literature.

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