Guide to the Papers of Arthur Wesley Wheen, 1915-2005 (bulk 1920-1940)

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MS 3656

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Collection Summary

Creator
Arthur Wesley Wheen
Title
Papers of Arthur Wesley Wheen, 1915-2005 (bulk 1920-1940)
Date Range
1915 - 2005
Collection Number
MS 3656
Extent
1.5 metres (10 MS Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia

Introduction

Scope and Contents

MS 3656 comprises manuscripts, typescripts and galley proofs of Wheen's translations, letters and a small number of books and pamphlets. Additional material received in 2005 includes copies of Wheen's military records and medical reports, 1915-1920; correspondence of Ian Campbell with Brian O. Murdoch (the second translator of Erica Maria Remarque's works) and others, 1997-2001; and a copy of a paper by Ian Campbell on Australian connections with Remarque (2005) (10 boxes).

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn721190).

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Arthur Wesley Wheen, National Library of Australia, [class/series/file number]'.

Provenance

Wheen's papers were placed in the National Library by his widow.

Alternate Formats Available

The papers were microfilmed in 1999. See the Microfilm Numbers List. (under Related Documentation tab)

(Microfilm Mfm G 28132-28140)

Biographical Note

Arthur Wesley Wheen was born in Sydney in 1897. He enrolled at Sydney University, but in 1915 enlisted in the Australian Expeditionary Force and left to fight in Europe, where he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. On demobilisation he was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar and went up to New College Oxford in 1920. He joined the staff of the library of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1924.

His only original literary work Two Masters, a brief novella based on his life at the Front was published in 1929. Over the next ten years he translated a number of works from German, several of them novels dealing with the First World War. He is especially remembered for his translation of Eric Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front which was an outstanding success. For a while Wheen had close connections with a circle which included Herbert Read and T.S. Eliot. In 1939 he was appointed Keeper of the Library and stayed in this position, achieving some distinction, until he retired in 1962. He died in March 1971.

Item Descriptions

Class MS 3656. Original Consignment

Series 1. All Quiet on the Western Front, 1929 - Box 1 (MS 3656)

This series covers the whole process of the translating of the famous novel by E.M. Remarque. It contains a bound typescript in German (1927), a printed German text, Wheen's manuscript in English, versions of the English typescript and galley proofs. (Files 1-6)

Series 2. The Road-Back, 1931 - Box 2, 3, 4, 5 (MS 3656)

This series covers the translation of the sequel to All Quiet on the Western Front. There are various German typescripts, an English manuscript. and several English typescripts. (Files 1-16)

Series 3. Three Comrades, 1937 - Box 6, 7 (MS 3656)

This novel was started in 1933 under the name of 'Abscheid' (Departure) which Remarque sent to Wheen in instalments. This early version was later greatly revised. This series contains the original typescript instalments of 'Abschied' with covering notes from Remarque still attached; the start of Wheen's translation of it; two versions of the German typescript of 'Three Comrades' (the first incomplete); an English manuscript; Galley proofs of the finished translation. (Files 1-7)

Series 4. Other Works of Remarque - Box 7 (MS 3656)

This series contains incomplete German and English typescripts of a later novel by Remarque, which Wheen doesn't appear to have finished. This was later translated and published in America in 1941 under the name of Flotsam. There are also translations in typescript of various short stories: 'The Fatal Idyll', 'Silence Round Verdun','KarlBroeger in Fleury', 'Strange Facts III', 'Johan Bartok'. (Files 1-2)

Series 5. Four Infantrymen, 1930 - Box 8 (MS 3656)

This series covers the translation of the novel by E. Johanssen. It contains part of a German proof copy, Wheen's translation in manuscript. a first version of the English typescript (mixed and incomplete), a complete final version and proofs. (Files 1-4)

Series 6. Bushmen Drawings, 1930 - Box 8 (MS 3656)

This series consists of one file covering the work by Overmaier and Kuhr. It contains a German typescript and a manuscript translation. (File 1)

Series 7. The Kaiser Goes, 1933 - Box 8-9 (MS 3656)

This covers the translating of the novel by T. Plivier. It contains the German book,an incomplete English manuscript, an English transcript, proofs and two copies of the final printed version. (Files 1-5)

Series 8. Vergil, 1934 - Box 9 (MS 3656)

This series consists of one file covering the translation of the short work by T. Haecker, 'Vergil, Father of the West'. It contains part of a German proof copy. a complete German typescript a few pages of an English manuscript and a typescript of the finished translation. (File 1)

Series 9. Wheen's own Writing - Box 10 (MS 3656)

This series is one file containing the galley proofs of Wheen's short story 'Two Masters' (1929) and an essay of 1931concerning Dr Bean's proposed history of the Great War for children, manuscript and typescript. (File 1)

Series 10. Correspondence - Box 10 (MS 3656)

This series contains a file of family correspondence containing four letters from Wheen to his mother, written between 1924 and 1953. Accompanying one of these is a letter from his wife and seven letters to his sister Lilly (Mrs R. Tebbutt) written between 1960 and 1967. There is a second file of correspondence relating to Wheen's translation work arranged as follows - firstly letters from publishers in chronological order, accompanying one of these (3/7/29 - Pegasus Press, Paris) a copy of the contract for the translation of 'Bushmen Drawings'; secondly letters from Remarque (often undated); finally a letter from the writer E. Johanssen and two from C.E, (Eiserstein?). There is also an undated letter from the British Embassy Berlin addressed to "Dear Constance" with illegible signature. (Files 1-2)

Series 11. Clippings - Box 10 (MS 3656)

This is one file of unsorted magazine and newspaper clippings, nearly all concerning All Quiet on the Western Front. (File 1)

Class MS 3656. Consignment added 4 September 1980

Notes relating to Wheen given to the National Library by his brother, John Wheen

Class MS 3656. Consignment added 29 April 1998

A photo of Arthur Wheen in London, 8 March 1941


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