The collection contains a typescript draft and printer's proof of John Gardner's autobiographical Spin the Bottle (London: Frederick Muller, 1964), as well as typescript drafts and other material relating to his Boysie Oakes stories Understrike and Traitor's Exit, and introductory material for a proposed series featuring detective Derek Torry.

John Edmund Gardner was born in Northumberland, England on November 20, 1926. He expressed a desire to be a writer at the age of eight, but his life would follow a circuitous path before he finally settled into that profession. A teenager during World War II, Gardner joined the Home Guard as a drummer boy. While waiting to come of age, he auditioned for the American Red Cross Entertainments Department and visited numerous military hospitals as a magician. Finally turning 18 at the end of 1944, he was able to join the Royal Navy. After a few months he was transferred to a Royal Marines commando unit and served in Asia and the Middle East.

.4 linear feet (1 document box)

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

None.