The catalogue of the archive of Victoria Glendinning, two-time Whitbread Prize for Biography winner, is now available. While Glendinning is known for her commercially and critically successful biographies, she has also written prolifically as a columnist and novelist. Her archive includes research papers, drafts, and professional correspondence relating to her non-fiction and fiction work.
Glendinning’s archive demonstrates her excitement about early success, as well as her strong convictions. Included in the archive is a collection of letters that she received in response to a letter to the editor of The Guardian in which she critiques the assumption that homemaking is a sufficient creative outlet for most ‘ordinary women’. Published on 17 February 1967, this was one of Glendinning’s first appearances in print. Her first biography, A Suppressed Cry: Life and Death of a Quaker Daughter (Routledge & K. Paul, 1969), which chronicles the life of her great-aunt Winnie Seebohm and her time at Newnham College, Cambridge, followed shortly after.
Opening pages from Victoria Glendinning’s manuscript draft of A Suppressed Cry, c.1969, Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS. 23709/45. Courtesy of Victoria Glendinning.
Glendinning found critical acclaim in the early 1980s with biographies Edith Sitwell: A Unicorn Among Lions (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1981) and Vita: The Life of Vita Sackville-West (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1983). This was followed by a personal request by Dame Rebecca West to write her short biography. Glendinning’s papers collected in preparation for the West biography comprise not only research into West’s correspondence with her peers and family, but also letters from West to Glendinning right up until West’s death in 1983.
Opening page from Victoria Glendinning’s manuscript draft of Vita: The Life of V. Sackville-West, c.1983, Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS. 23709/57. Courtesy of Victoria Glendinning.
The archive includes Glendinning’s manuscript drafts of Rebecca West: A Life (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1987), as well as other papers relating to the production of her biographies, including drafts of Elizabeth Bowen: Portrait of a Writer (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1977) and Vita, and photographs, page proofs, and book cover designs of Trollope (Hutchinson, 1992).
In the 1990s and 2000s, Glendinning’s oeuvre expanded to include long-form fiction, such as Electricity (Hutchinson, 1995), for which the Bodleian holds research materials and a typescript draft. The archive also includes drafts of several unpublished works including short stories, a novel “Martha, Martha” and a biography of the Romantic poet Felicia Hemans. The archive shows how Glendinning’s writing processes evolved as she moved between genres as well as how a fickle publishing industry affected a tenacious writer over a career that has spanned from the late 1960s through to the 2020s.
Each January, the Archive of the Conservative Party releases files which were previously closed under the 30-year rule. This year, files from 1995 are newly-available to access. This blog post serves to outline strands of information contained in these files, while exploring a number of interesting highlights. These demonstrate not only their intrinsic value in helping to develop a more complete understanding of the era but also provide valuable source material for researchers and historians. This archive material is open to those who wish to investigate the mechanics of the Conservative Party, but also those in search of a greater appreciation of British Political history.
1995 saw the continuation of Conservative government, with John Major serving his fifth year as Prime Minister. However, despite a steady economic situation, John Major’s position was becoming overshadowed by significant internal divisions over the issue of European integration. To assert his authority and to silence his critics, Major resigned as Party Leader in June 1995, and immediately put himself forward for re-election, challenging his opponents. He won the ballot with over 66% of the vote. However, this did not stem the series of defeats the Conservative Party experienced in successive local elections. These issues are amongst those covered within thenewly-released files, alongside monitoring of opposition parties, and an insight into the Conservative initiatives abroad, including the European Democratic Union.
Again, as in subsequent years, a large proportion of our new releases are from our collections of CRD (Conservative Research Department) files. Material is drawn from various sources including subject briefings, directors’ papers and letter books of desk officers. It also includes CRD files covering topics such as agriculture, environmental issues and food standards. Alongside these CRD files we will also be releasing papers relating to the international arm of the Conservative Party.
International relations – 1990-1995
This year we have released a number of files from the International Office (previously, Conservative Overseas Bureau), who were responsible for improving links with overseas political parties, as well as providing briefing material on international issues. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Conservative Party, through the International Office’s links with groups such as the European Democrat Union (EDU) and the International Democrat Union (IDU), gave support and encouragement to the formation of democratic political parties in former Eastern bloc countries, and sent observers to monitor elections. The Conservative Party was a founding member of both the EDU and the IDU, and from 1983 to 1999 the secretariat of the IDU was based at the International Office.
Being released this year is COB 7/4/1/8, which contains papers regarding the EDU’s Committee on the Promotion of Stability and Security in Europe. The briefing summary does admit that “the main problem is that of strengthening the will of European governments to engage in joint action.” It also references that “the continued presence of Russian troops in the Baltic countries is in sharp contrast with international law and must come to an end.”
CPA COB 7/4/1/8 – “The Promotion of Stability and Security in Europe”, 1995
It is noteworthy that much discussion in 1995 is focused on the European Union. It is clear that there were differing opinions in just how Britain should be part of that community. Within the Conservative Party, there were hardliners who did not want to be part of the single currency as well as those who embraced the single market. The Conservative Political Centre set out several local policy discussion groups to encourage consensus through discussion and debate on the way forward in Europe. Looking at Richard Normington’s (Head of the International Office and Head of the Overseas and Defence Section of CRD, 1994-1999) letter books, thanks can be found by the Foreign Secretary, Malcom Rifkind, to these groups.
CPA COB 3/3/2 – Letter book, February 1995-December 1995
National Issues, 1993-1995
In addition to international relations, the International Office was also responsible for working with parties relating to Northern Ireland. Again, 1995 proved a pivotal year in the political landscape of Northern Ireland, with a landmark visit by US President Bill Clinton. Against the backdrop of the Troubles, work was ongoing to ensure the continued progress of the peace process. In the midst of trial and tribulation, Richard Normington received a letter from Sinn Fein, reaffirming their mutual desire for a stable peace. They welcomed “the opportunity to exchange views of the important task and responsibility which we all have to create the conditions to bring about a just and lasting peace settlement.”
CPA COB 3/3/1 – Letter book, Richard Normington, 1994-1995
As well as the ongoing questions surrounding Northern Ireland, in 1995, Labour began to float an idea regarding Devolution. The Labour Party, under the leadership of Tony Blair, expressed an intention to set up Regional Development Agencies, to help develop regions on a local level. Additionally, there were discussions regarding a referendum regarding Welsh and Scottish devolution. This raised some questions about how the devolved system would work. It also reignited issues surrounding the West Lothian Question, as to whether MPs in Scotland and Wales would be stopped from voting on issues that involved England only, as the reverse had been purported to be something they were considering.
CPA CRD/D/11/18 – Director’s Files: Strategy and Elections, 1989-1995
Furthermore, being released this year is a large collection of CRD briefings on various domestic issues. As well as briefings on agriculture and food standards, there are also briefings regarding transport. For example, the upgrading of the Channel Tunnel rail link. So, although the Channel Tunnel had officially been opened in 1994, a Bill was put through Parliament to extend the rail link.
CPA CRD/B/31/18 – Transport briefs, 1995
These CRD papers also include a few papers regarding the ongoing privatisation of England and Wales’ water supply. This issue is still very much alive. However, an analysis of the papers identifies that even after the privatisation, the Conservative government worked closely with the water companies to ensure fair charging and good water quality.
CPA CRD 5/6/42 (left) and CPA CRD 5/6/7 (right)
Strategy papers, 1994-1995
Among the CRD papers are also records which afford insight into the internal Conservative strategies for the upcoming General Election in 1997. The Campaigning Department, working towards the General Election, started their work in 1992, right after the previous General Election. However, it is apparent that 1995 was a crucial year, as a number of local elections had taken place. This had resulted in the Conservatives losing a number of local seats and it was clear that new strategies were needed. Therefore, a decision was made to focus on the national position, rather than the local level. Throughout this period, the Conservative Party remained optimistic that the 1997 election would provide them with another victory.
CPA CRD/D/11/16 – Director’s Files: Strategy and Elections, 1989-1995
All the material featured in this blog will be made available in January 2026.The full list of de-restricted items can be accessed here: Files de-restricted on 2026-01-02
