A. S. Byatt Archive Acquired by British Library

The British Library has announced it has acquired the archive of novelist, short story writer, and literary critic Dame A. S. Byatt.

Best known for her Booker prize-winning novel Possession: A Romance (1990), Byatt's archive is one of the most significant contemporary literary additions to the Library's collection in recent years.

Born Antonia Susan Drabble in Sheffield, 1936, Byatt's writing career spanned six decades and her novels were often intricate and complex, re-imagining elements from fairy tales, folklore, mythology and 19th century literature to explore contemporary questions of identity, relationships and morality. Byatt published nine short stories and 11 novels, including The Virgin in the Garden (1978), Still Life (1985) and the Booker-shortlisted The Children’s Book (2009). She also spent 11 years working in academia before writing full-time. 

In recognition of her services to literature, Byatt was appointed CBE in 1990 and made a Dame in 1999. Alongside her creative work, Byatt was a respected critic who published two studies on Iris Murdoch who was also a friend.

Highlights of the archive which comprises 68 boxes of material include:

• diary entries written when Byatt was a young woman, showing her early ambition and intense interest in art, literature and philosophy
• handwritten drafts of Possession and The Virgin in the Garden
• research material and drafts for a novel originally called Hedgehog, which was later published as The Children’s Book
• a letter from Iris Murdoch congratulating Byatt on her writing of Possession

The Library estimates that catloguing will take up to two years to complete once it begins.

“The British Library is thrilled to have acquired the archive of A S Byatt," said Helen Melody, Lead Curator of Contemporary Literary and Creative Archives at the British Library. "Byatt sits at the heart of the British literary establishment and her prominence within post-war British literature cannot be overstated. The archive captures the fascinating evolution of her craft as a writer. This collection will be a hugely significant resource for researchers seeking to learn more about her life and work, including her enduring influence on contemporary literature.”