Chandler, Raymond

An intriguing piece of Chandler as apprentice writer with hundreds of titles and character names from numerous unpublished stories, along with a record of financial support for his lover (later wife) Cissy Pascal.

A young Raymond Chandler (or "RT Chandler as he often signed his early work)  had a fairly consistent publishing career in London from 1910 until the War. Writing by his own admission "Grade-B Georgian Poetry" for the Westminster Gazette with all of the tools and allusions his Dulwich College education had afforded him, he had yet to venture into prose in any real depth, but began to write longer pieces privately in the 1920's.

After serving in the Gordon Highlanders and RAF (which he records on the front pastedown) Chandler made his way to Los Angeles by 1919 and was making, at least an amateur attempt to return to writing. He was also working to support both Cissy (his recently divorced lover) and his mother, who disapproved of his son's relationship due to the age difference. Supporting both was a financial strain for Chandler and many pages are given over to noting expenses "For Cissy".

To judge from the titles, Chandler's ideas were flowing in an English fantastical  vein with examples like "The Court of Whispering Trees",  "The Tottering Idol" or "The Evil Sultan of Harundeen." A great admirer of HH Munro ("Saki"), a few of the notes are intriguing snippets of dialogue that certianly suggest a classic Edwardian satirical voice.  "Lady N always did have such dreadful taste in week-end parties", "No, I won't marry you, but I'm quite willing to divorce you." and "the singing of the elephants no longer delights me" are quite different in tone than the voice of Philip Marlowe and the present notebook represents a very different writer than the one that was to help transform mystery and detective fiction.

Early Chandler material is almost unknown on the market.