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Frank King Literary Archive

Archive Collection: MS 2355

Details

Type of record: Archive

Title: Frank King Literary Archive

Level: Collection

Classmark: MS 2355

Creator(s): King, Frank Alfred (1909-)

Date(s): c1920s - 1930s

Size and medium: 14 files; 3 boxes

Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/796994

Collection group(s): English Literature

Description

Fourteen original typed manuscripts of novels/stories c.1920's-1930's, all appear unpublished, small number with corresponding typed letters by King to publishers and correspondence in return, some written as Frank King, others under the alias "Claude Christie".

Biography or history

Frank King was a crime and fantasy writer born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1892. He studied medicine at the University of Leeds and served in the army in Egypt and the Middle East during the First World War. At the end of the conflict, he returned to Halifax to practice medicine.
His first book ‘Miriam of the Moorland’ was published in 1924. His horror novel ‘The Ghoul’ (1928), was adapted into two films. His series of novels featuring London private detective Clive Conrad, nicknamed the Dormouse were a huge success and enabled King to abandon medical practice to devote himself entirely to writing. He is one of the founding members of the Crime Writers' Association.

Provenance

Acquired at auction from T W Gaze, August 2025.

Access and usage

Access

This material is not subject to restrictions under Data Protection or other relevant legislation that might limit access. However, other protections, such as donor conditions or conservation considerations, may still apply where advised.

Collection hierarchy

Only an overall description is available.

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