A neat am-dram working copy of this charming pocket edition of Maurice Maeterlinck’s celebrated play, with cover art by Jessie M. King, belonging to C. Hope Chenhalls, who, in 1930, was presumably a Westfield College student and involved – perhaps as director? – in the College’s winter production of The Intruder.
Little is known about Hope Clara Chenhalls (1910-1995): she went on to study at Newcastle University and, at some point, crossed paths with the Russian artist Nadia Benois, who painted her portrait (1941). Benois was a renowned set and costume designer (and Peter Ustinov’s mother) – perhaps the two women met through the theatre?
Westfield College (1882-1989; later, Queen Mary & Westfield College; now Queen Mary University of London) was the first institution to educate women for University of London degrees. Mary Butts had been an earlier alumnus of Westfield College.
Gowan’s International Library no. 43.
[ref: 3040]