Typescript draft of An Imaginary Life, 89 leaves, handwritten emendations by author and others in blue biro, black biro and orange pen. On last page 'Sydney I.XI.76 - 7.I.77'.

The original typed up version of An Imaginary Life was professionally typed. The top copy went to Braziller, the publisher. This is the second copy which later went to Curtis Brown.
Typescript draft of An Imaginary Life, 137 numbered leaves, 1 unnumbered title page, and 2 unnumbered leaves with the Afterword. The title page has the stamp 'From: Curtis Bown (Aust.)' (literary agent) and includes editorial corrections, mostly in green pencil, and some black biro. There are a few pages that are copies of the typescript draft. Undated.

Child’s Play is an account of the experiences of an Italian terrorist and his special interest in his victim. It was first published in 1981 with another novella, The Bread of Time to Come (later changed to Fly Away Peter). It was republished in 1982 with two short stories, Eustace and The Prowler. This subseries includes manuscript drafts for original first draft, first typescript draft, and second typescript draft. All the drafts have explanatory notes by David Malouf.

One handwritten page with notes for the first draft, which gives details of how the first draft was created. With the note is the first draft of Child's Play. This draft comprises handwritten and typescript leaves. Handwritten pages are in blue and red biro and some in black ink. Typescript leaves have extensive handwritten emendations. Undated.

One handwritten note '1st typescript, heavily corrected'. With first typescript draft, 72 leaves, extensive handwritten emendations, Chapters 10 and 13 not included. Undated.

One handwritten note 'Rejected chapers - also earlier typed versions of the book replaced by present 1st typed versions'. With rejected chapters, 26 leaves. Undated.

One handwritten note by author about the accompanying '2nd typescript'. The second typescript is: the remaining pages from the original second typescript draft made in Rome in December 1980, which were heavily written over then retyped and replace pages for the final version. This second typescript draft was also heavily written over and to be used again in the final version. All pages are marked CP and numbered on the left top corner. This is the only surviving second typescript draft. 151 pages, Dec 1980.

One handwritten note by author: 'late rewriting of pages for the final typescript'. Three typescript leaves of amended pages for the final typescript draft, with minor handwritten emendations. Undated.

One-page working plan, 17 Mar 1980, together with newspaper article Come sono lontani da Bakunin questi burocrati del terrorismo from La Nazione, which in Malouf’s words ‘was the spur’

Folder used for Child’s Play. With handwritten notes by author.