Janes, Percy

• Main Author: Riggs, Bertram G., 1954-
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Libraries 1992
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/ead/id/204

Percy Janes has been referred to by many as Newfoundland's pre-eminent novelist and his second novel House of Hate has been singled out as "the great Newfoundland novel". This collection of literary papers - will provide much insight into the validity of these judgements. The collection contains manuscript (both holograph and typed) editions of all his major literary works, - including one novel and several plays which have never been published or performed. Many of the longer works have synopses of plot, story line and character development, some quite detailed; all were done in - preparation for the writing assignments to follow and demonstrate the amount of thought Janes put into a proposed work before he actually began to write it. There are also drafts and rewrites, some spanning - many years, which show the development and change of a work in progress. - - Janes's papers also include an extensive collection of correspondence, mainly with other writers, some of - whom he sent various writings to for comments and criticism. There is also correspondence with - publishing companies, indicative of a writer's frustration in trying to get early works published. Of particular - interest to literary historians and biographers is Janes's journals or diaries which begin in 1953 and - continue, uninterrupted, to 1996. The collection gives a complete picture of Janes the writer, and through - his writing, of Janes the man. -