Our first Books, Coins and Stamps auction of 2025 includes many notable items including a private collection of books and ephemera by English novelist John Fowles. The collection, originally owned by Fowles' closest friend Denys Sharrocks, has been consigned by the son of Denys and Monica Sharrocks.
28/03/2025
The most interesting lot of the collection is a presentation copy of John Fowles first novel ‘The Collector’. Dated April 22nd 1963, the book is inscribed to Denys and Monica Sharrocks. Denys Sharrocks was for fifty years John Fowles closest friend. Estimated at £700 - £1,000, the book is one of a number of inscribed copies from John Fowles to Denys and Monica Sharrocks in the sale.
With a long inscription on the front endpaper from the author.
This is a prime association copy of Fowles' breakthrough first novel. The inscription is apparently pre-publication, as the novel was not published until May. Denys Sharrocks was for half a century John Fowles' closest friend.
Provenance: From the collection of Denys and Monica Sharrocks, thence by descent.
Cataloguer's note: W Denys Sharrocks first met John Fowles in September 1952 in Greece. Both were teaching English at the Anargyrios and Korgialeneios School in Spetsai. Their time in Spestsai and the friendship between Sharrocks and Fowles has been well documented in The Magus, in Fowles' own two-volume Journals and in the biography by Eileen Warburton. Although Denys Sharrocks and his wife Monica were frequently working abroad in Indonesia and Nigeria in the years from 1954-68, they often met up with John and Liz Fowles at the Fowles' home at Underhill Farm, Lyme Regis, and at the Sharrocks' home at Mardu, Clun, Shropshire. They also enjoyed joint holidays to France and Italy. During this time, Monica Sharrocks and Liz Fowles became very close friends. These visits and holidays are documented in Fowles' Journal (2 volumes, 2003 & 2006) and in Warburton's biography (2004).
During 1977-78, Denys and Monica lived in Stockholm where Denys was Cultural Attache at the British Embassy. John Fowles visited them as part of an official cultural tour to Sweden, arranged by Denys. Thereafter, meetings and visits between the Fowles and Sharrocks continued until Elizabeth's death in 1990. Denys and Monica were present at Belmont House, Lyme Regis, when Liz Fowles died.
Following Liz Fowles' death, the long-standing friendship began to wane, especially after John married Sarah Smith in 1998. The publication of volume 1 of the Journals in 2003, with its controversial content, led to an abrupt end to the friendship.
In 2004 Denys donated over 300 letters written by Elizabeth and John Fowles to him and Monica to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. The center already had a major collection of John Fowles material, the bulk of which was acquired direct from the author in 1991. In a long letter of 2004 to Dr Thomas F Staley, Director of the Harry Ransom Center, concerning the letters, Eileen Warburton writes: 'Outside of Fowles' own diaries, their letters are the most valuable John Fowles related documents in existence...The sixty letters written all or in part by John Fowles is the largest intact collection from John Fowles to anyone other than Elizabeth herself'. She further states that the Sharrockses are of tremendous importance to an understanding of who Fowles was, as a writer and person and that the letters completely transformed her understanding of his life and work.
John Fowles died in 2005.
To request more information about this lot or a condition report: Telephone +44 (0)1743 450 700 or email fineart@hallsgb.com
+44 (0)1743 450 700
fineart@hallsgb.com
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