Ruth Rendell Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0088

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Ruth Rendell Papers consist of manuscript materials for several novels by the author, as well as an audio cassette containing an interview with Ruth Rendell. The materials date from around 1968-1986.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1968-1986

Extent

0.69 Cubic Feet (2 archives boxes.)

Creator

Rendell, Ruth, 1930-2015 (Person)

Scope and Contents

The Ruth Rendell Papers house the typescripts of four of the author's non-series mystery-suspense novels, the uncorrected page proof (bound copy) of one story collection, and an audio cassette recording of an interview with Ruth Rendell which was conducted at Bowling Green State University.

The collection should be of use to researchers interested in Ruth Rendell or in the craft of non-traditional, psychological mystery-suspense fiction.

Biographical / Historical

Ruth Rendell (1930-2015) was born on February 17, 1930 in London, England. She was educated in Essex, England and lived in Suffolk with her husband and daughter. Ruth Rendell was named Baroness Rendell of Babergh in 1997 and served in the House of Lords until her death in 2015.

Ruth Rendell published her first novel (From Doon With Death) in 1964 and quickly began writing the two types of mysteries which have defined her career. On the one hand, Rendell first achieved fame with a series of police procedurals featuring the continuing exploits of Detective Chief Inspector Reg Wexford. These novels and stories follow a traditional "crime and clues" pattern, but even here Rendell has managed to demonstrate her deeper interest in the dark mysteries of the human mind and character. These latter concerns are given primary attention in the author's second set of writings (many written under the pseudonym of Barbara Vine) which have no continuing characters, few traditional mysteries, and which focus heavily upon a careful building of suspense, brooding atmosphere, and intricate psychological drama in the tradition of fellow Britons John Collier and Roald Dahl.

Ruth Rendell has won numerous awards for both types of her fiction. Of the manuscripts currently in the collection, the novel A Demon in My View was the recipient of a Gold Dagger Award in 1977 and the story "The New Girl Friend" won an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1984. In 1983, Ruth Rendell was given special recognition for her contributions to popular fiction as the recipient of the Popular Culture Association Award.

From 1987-2000, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries aired on ITV in the United Kingdom, with George Baker playing Rendell's iconic character Chief Inspector Rex Wexford.

Ruth Rendell died in 2015.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright and other restrictions may apply to the materials in this collection. Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.