DU MAURIER DAPHNE: (1907-1989) British Author. A good A.L.S., Daphne Browning, four pages, 8vo, Fowey, Cornwall, 21st January n.y. (1943), to Miss. [Dorothy] Horsman. Du Maurier sends her correspondent some proofs (no longer present) and comments 'On the very last page, in the proof, the writing goes down to the bottom of the page. I always think it looks better, when a book finishes, to have half a page blank; do you see what I mean? And do you think it looks better to have the words ''The End'' - or is that rather old fashioned and unnecessary?' Du Maurier further refers to the word 'killiq' which occurs from time to time within the book, stating 'I am uncertain whether I have spelt it correctly, or if it should be singular or plural. It is a small fish, like a large sardine! But perhaps you have an Irishman handy who could tell you the correct spelling!' In concluding the author asks Horsman if she will let Mr. Gollancz know that she will be in London during the first week of February 'and would love to have my annual lunch with him, if he will name a day' and in a lengthy postscript, signed with her initials DdM, again refers to the proof which she has corrected, as well as another that was sent to her by the printer, and remarking 'I would like a final proof for myself, please, if there will be such a thing, because I want to have it very specially bound for someone when I am up in London'. A letter of good content relating to Du Maurier's seventh novel. A couple of small pinholes to the upper left corner of each page, only very slightly affecting a few words of text, and two very small tears to the right edge of each page, only very slightly affecting one word of text, otherwise VG Dorothy Horsman had been employed by Victor Gollancz as his secretary whilst at Ernest Benn Ltd. When Gollancz founded his own publishing house in 1927 Horsman followed, joining him as a production manager. She has been described as 'a tower of strength, working early and late and dealing calmly and with immense efficiency, until her retirement in 1961, with every detail of the production, as she did with the thunderstorms that frequently broke over her head'. Horsman later became a director and when Gollancz became ill in 1943, in the same year as the present letter, she was appointed joint assistant managing director. The present letter relates to Du Maurier's seventh novel, Hungry Hill, which was published by Gollancz in 1943. The historical novel, of which 33 editions have been printed, is based on the family and history of the Irish ancestors of Du Maurier's friend Christopher Puxley.