American Roundabout, working typescript and inscribed book.
[Doris Nelson, English traveller in the USA.] Three typewritten drafts of her book 'American Roundabout', each with extensive emendations and deletions of text not present in the published version.
The first draft carrying the address of Doris Nelson, 834, Chelsea Cloisters, London. The last draft dated 1958. [The book published by the London publisher Robert Hale Ltd in 1960.] 'American Roundabout' provides a fresh, energetic and observant view of 1950s America. Having 'given up the job of public relations officer to a large oil company', the author leaves a London 'where the street lights are still lit by gas lamps', to spend a few months 'wandering around America, gathering impressions of this "brave new world."' Travelling around the country on Greyhound buses, she seeks to confirm the observation of a 'young Harvard friend': 'The United States is like a large donut, with nothing in the middle but hot air.' The journey gives her an opportunity to comment on subjects ranging from a beard-growing contest, to the Hollywood Cricket Club and a cowboy orchestra. Her circuit starts at New York, and passes through Washington; Richmond, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans; San Antonio; Santa Fe; Flagstaff, Arizona; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake City; Denver; Minneapolis; Chicago; Detroit. The three drafts of the book show its development towards publication. The first draft differs entirely from the other two, which feature the same typescript incorporating the changes indicated within the first draft, but each with their own emendations, deletions and rearrangements, the third draft being closer to the published version than the second. All three drafts consist of thirty-four chapters, rather than the published thirty-two. Draft One: Typescript. 219pp., 8vo. In brown card 'Shannon Systems' folder. With extensive autograph corrections in ink, and several pages cut up and reconstituted in sections, with slips and squares of paper laid down over rejected text. In manuscript on inside front cover: 'If this manuscript is lost by owner Miss D. Nelson of 834, Chelsea Cloisters, please be kind enough to return. A reward will be offered. Telephone Knightsbridge 2892'. Draft Two: Typescript. 314pp., 8vo. In brown card 'Shannon Systems' folder, with all text printed on one side of leaf only. Paginated 1 to 312, without a p.194, and with the page numberings 225, 251 and 284 featuring twice (on different pages). With numerous autograph emendations in ink and blue pencil, and four pages (25, 31, 37 and 38) cut up, with passages removed and rearranged on slips and squares of paper. In good condition, on aged paper with occasional wear to extremities. Extensively reworked and recast, with emendations in blue ink, and slips and squares of text cut out and repositioned. In fair condition, on aged paper, with occasional wear to extremities, and the first leaf loose. Draft Three: Typescript. 312pp., 8vo. In brown card 'Shannon Systems' folder, with all text printed on one side of leaf only. With numerous autograph emendations in ink and blue pencil. Paginated 1 to 312, without a p.194, and with the page numberings 225, 251 and 284 featuring twice (on different pages). Extensive rearrangement to the text, mostly within the first five chapters, with pages, and parts of pages cut away and repositioned. In autograph at foot of last page: ') Doris Nelson, 1958'. In good condition, on aged paper with occasional wear to extremities. On the publication in London of 'American Roundabout' its publisher Robert Hale Limited took out an advertisement in The Times, 26 May 1960, describing it as 'Amusing, candid account of English advertising executive's colossal round-the-U.S.A. bus trip.' The book's blurb calls it 'a fascinating personal voyage of exploration. Miss Nelson wanted to see and try to understand a way of life which, while stemming from English roots, has become completely and individualistically American. Indeed, Miss Nelson succeeds brilliantly in doing for America what Priestly did for his own country in English Journey. [...] Miss Nelson covers a colossal circuit [...] and perhaps because the trip was made largely by bus, the author was able to see and savour more than most trans-continental travellers'. Of the author the only information to be had is from the her biography on the book's dustwrapper: 'Doris Nelson was born in London and lives in Chelsea. She [...] worked as a junior copywriter with an advertising agency. During the War she joined the W.A.A.F. and became a Public Relations Officer at the Air Ministry. | After working for seven years as Public Relations Officer to a large oil company - at that time the only woman in this industrial field - she relinquished this post to travel round the U.S.A. by bus and write American Roundabout. [...]' The drafts contain interesting passages omitted from the published version, with Nelson paring down sentences to gain a more punchy style, with the consequence that the drafts contain many items of information lost from the final text. For example, deleted from the 'Envoi' preceding the first chapter is a paragraph explaining that the Bank of England has granted the author 'a small dollar allowance when I outlined my ideas of gathering material for articles and a book. I also hoped to earn more by doing a little journalism work while there.' Also lost is the fact that New York customs officials consider that Nelson might be smuggling drugs. The third published chapter describes a telephone conversation with Noel Coward, the published version omitting to mention that Nelson had been given his number by British Information Services. The fourth chapter ends with an interview with a young Julie Andrews, in New York to star in 'My Fair Lady', the published version omitting several passages, including information on 'film offers', the fact that the actress sleeps in her dressing-room between shows, and that she has asked her manager Lew Wilson for 'a small motor cruiser'. Also omitted from the published version is the fact that Hermione Gingold reveals during an interview that she is 'spending alternate years in London and New York', and that she has appeared on 'the Robert Q Lewis Show, in the Steve Allen Show, with Ed Sullivan, in the Gary Moore Show'. Passages that were deleted as of minor interest can often contain useful information, for example this description of a Manhattan diner: 'The enervating host made me seek a cafeteria where the air conditioning system provided coolness and relief after the sudden hot breathlessness of the streets. This was one of the most modern I had been in and I was fascinated b the assembly shop methods. Orders were given by waitresses over a microphone to the kitchen and a moving circular platform set out the filled dishes and took back the empties.' Another omitted passage criticises 'the attitude of the younger generation playing in the streets, who are so disinterested in religious matters that they bounce balls against the synagogue and mission hall walls and don't even know if the places of worship are open when you ask them'.
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