The University has recently acquired a collection of the work of the English philosopher/author Colin Wilson. The collection comes from Wilson’s bibliographer Colin Stanley [1952- ].
One of the original “angry young men”, Colin Wilson was born in Leicester in 1931, and became an overnight success in 1956 with the publication of his book “The Outsider” (London: Victor Gollancz, 1956). He went on to write books, essays and articles on a wide range of subjects including fiction, philosophy, political science, psychology, and the occult.
Colin Stanley first discovered Wilson’s work in 1970 and the collection has accumulated since then. In 1981, when working as a librarian at Nottingham University’s Hallward Library, he wrote to Wilson suggesting he compile a bibliography of the author’s work.
Wilson responded enthusiastically and thus began a collaboration and friendship which survives to this day with Stanley making annual visits to Wilson’s home in Cornwall to consult and record the author’s vast body of work.
It is expected that the collection will continue to grow under the University’s management, with continuing input and collaboration from Colin Stanley.
These two photographs of Wilson were taken at Chepstow Villas, London, in 1956.
Posted on Thursday 3rd December 2009