The British Library has acquired the archive of the great writer on English rural life Ronald Blythe, founder President of the John Clare Society and author of Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village.
Blythe, who died in 2023 at the age of one hundred, never made use of a computer, but his papers, which run to a million pages, are said to have been kept in immaculate order, written in school exercise books and on index cards.
Ian Collins, Blythe’s biographer and literary executor, said: ‘When people say “archive” it’s usually another word for “muddle” but with Ronnie you can tell it’s the product of an amazing, self-trained mind.’ Even so, according to The Guardian, which reported on the acquisition, curators estimate it will take a year to fully catalogue his archive and better understand the treasures hidden in his books, letters and cards.
The British Library is also hosting an event celebrating Blythe’s life. Join Patrick Barkham, Ian Collins, Jenny Hall and Helen Melody on Monday, 23 February at 7pm for an evening of conversation and reminiscence, along with fascinating insights into Ronald Blythe’s archive. Details and booking arrangements here.
The John Clare Society 
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