[WILLIAMS ERIC]: (1911-1983) English writer and former RAF pilot and prisoner-of-war during World War II whose most famous novel was The Wooden Horse (1949), made into a movie of the same name the following year. An interesting archive of fifty-two A.Ls.S., T.Ls.S. etc., comprising correspondence from a wide variety of individuals to Williams, largely letters of praise and acknowledgements regarding his books, some with references to The Wooden Horse, including Charles Causley (1917-2003) British Poet; in part ‘I’ve enjoyed your new book so much…..The Wooden Horse and The Tunnel were first rate; and this first rater. Its candidness, freedom from pretentiousness and humbug, and really excellent writing in all senses, make it a most remarkable piece of work’ (6^th May 1957), Anthony Montague Browne (1923-2013) British diplomat, Private Secretary to Winston S. Churchill 1955-65; in part, ‘[Churchill] is very sorry that he does not feel able to pick an incident in the way you suggest. He has often been asked to do this, or something very similar, and he has always declined. He much regrets that he does not feel able to make an exception’ (19^th January 1957), Nancy Astor (1879-1964) Viscountess Astor, British politician, the first woman seated as a Member of Parliament, 1919-45, Hugh Durnford (author of The Tunnellers of Holzminded); in part, ‘Your headings and captions in the first instalment of The Wooden Horse do grave injustice to the third member of the escape party (Squadron Leader Oliver Phillpott of Coastal Command). The original idea was Codner’s undoubtedly after that he was in it on equal terms with the other two…..I heard him tell his story in my capacity as an Intelligence officer…..It was as you rightly say the “greatest escape ever”, all the more reason why those who made it should be correctly recorded. My credentials for correcting you are unassailable. I had access to the official reports as soon as these men were interrogated….’ (1^st March 1949), Christina Foyle (1911-1999) English bookseller, owner of Foyles bookshop; thanking him for a signed copy of Complete and Free and remarking ‘I have already read your book in proof form and found it splendid. How wise you were to break away from the world of big business and launch out on your own. It is the only way to live happily’ (1^st April 1957), Eric Hiscock (1908-1986) British author and sailor, Allen Lane (1902-1970) British publisher, co-founder of Penguin Books, in part, ‘I enjoyed the book [‘Complete and Free’] very much, not so much on account of your descriptions of your adventures or of places visited but because of the insight it has given me into your character, of your feelings in marriage &…..towards a satisfactory philosophy leading to the fuller life’ (28^th May 1957), Alasdair Milne (1930-2013) British television producer, Director-General of the BBC 1982-87, Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973) Irish-British novelist, in part, ‘I read Complete and Free greedily, on it’s arrival. It is a grand book; I not only enjoyed it (which to me is important!) but admired it. I’ve tried to say why I admired it in a rather inadequate Tatler review…..I was only sorry that there was no mention of Goon in the Block in this last book of yours: the implication throughout, unless I look it up wrongly, was that The Wooden Horse had been the first. And the publishers, I see, don’t mention Goon in the Block among your works. Don’t let that fine book die and go down to silence!’ (21^st May 1957), John Brophy (1899-1965) Anglo-Irish soldier, journalist and author, Andre Deutsch (1917-2000) Hungarian-born British publisher, etc. The vast majority of the letters are accompanied by the carbon typed retained copies of reply from Williams. Some light, general age wear, generally G to VG, Qty