Sheridan Morley Goes Under the Hammer???

Theatre memorabilia fans should get themselves to 24 Maddox Street, London W1 this week, where gems from the library of the late critic Sheridan Morley, who passed away last year (See News, 16 May 2007), are now on display ahead of a property auction tomorrow.

Morley’s library in his Battersea, south London, home grew until it contained some 22,000 books, videos, cassettes, manuscripts and CD. In addition to his own books, many tomes by friends and colleagues were also researched or written in the library, which was open to all, from actors preparing for roles to academics and schoolchildren. Amongst the books now being auctioned are rare and out-of-print titles signed by Morley or inscribed to him by authors.

Over a long career, Morley himself penned more than 30 books, including major biographies of Noel Coward, John Gielgud and his father Robert Morley. Earlier this year, a new annual theatre biography prize was launched in his memory (See The Goss, 22 Apr 2008). As for the auction, details of the lots can be found on the Bloomsbury Auctions website.