ID 1362791 
Lot 105  | DOWSON, Ernest (1867-1900)
Estimate value
£ 15 000 – 20 000 
Autograph manuscript signed ('Ernest Dowson') of his unpublished novel 'Madame de Viole', n.d. [1888-89]
253 pages, 233 x 180mm, a fair copy, with occasional emendations. In two notebooks, paper wrappers (bindings worn, wrappers worn, those for vol.1 defective). Full deep brown morocco box. Provenance: presented by Dowson to 'Richards', the foreman of the family dry dock in Limehouse, in 1895, and given by him to: – 'Patrick Dickenson, the poet' (perhaps Patric Dickinson, 1914-1994), and by him to: – Desmond Flower (1907-1997, Dowson scholar; these details from a typescript by Flower preserved with the lot); Barry Humphries (1934-2023; bookplate).
Dowson's unpublished novel. 'Madame de Viole' is a product of Dowson's relatively carefree early years: the son of the owner of a dry-docking business in Limehouse, he was an undergraduate at Queen's College, Oxford, although he left in March 1888 without completing his degree after his father ran into financial difficulties. Having collaborated on two unsuccessful novels with his friend Arthur Moore, he worked on 'Madame de Viole' for approximately the following year – the novel shows the influence of Maupassant (whom he had met) and Zola. After his failure in finding a publisher for his novel, Dowson turned to reviewing, translations of French fictions, and the poetry for which he is best known.
| Artist: | Ernest Dowson (1867 - 1900) | 
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| Place of origin: | England, Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom | 
| Auction house category: | Letters, documents and manuscripts, Books and manuscripts | 
| Artist: | Ernest Dowson (1867 - 1900) | 
|---|---|
| Place of origin: | England, Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom | 
| Auction house category: | Letters, documents and manuscripts, Books and manuscripts | 
| Address of auction | CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
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| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase | 










