KILLENS, JOHN OLIVER, 1916-1987.
John Oliver Killens papers > Writings by Killens > Novels and novellas

Scope and Content Note

This subseries consists of drafts, notes, research, book reviews, and book jackets related to Killens's published and unpublished novels and novellas from circa 1945-1989. The subseries is divided into two sections: published work (2.1a) and unpublished work (2.1b). The published work consists mainly of drafts of the six novels and one novella Killens published between 1954 and 1989. Killens wrote multiple versions of drafts; these typescripts and manuscripts have been arranged in the order in which Killens drafted or arranged them. A smaller amount of material includes galley proofs, notes, and research sources Killens consulted.

The unpublished work is comprised entirely of typescripts and manuscripts, draft fragments, and notes for Killens's unpublished novels. Of particular interest are his drafts of the novels Eternal Vigilance and Stony the Road We Trod. These works, conceived of in the 1940s, seem to be precursors to his first published novel, Youngblood (1954).

Arrangement Note

Organized into two sections: (2.1a) Published work and (2.1b) Unpublished work.