Showing 112 results

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Wonders if she might be 'going to London in a car on Thursday' or returning in one on Friday; expects not, but thought he would '"just mention it"'. Is hoping to see her on Tuesday.

West Melville, Northam, N. Devon. - Has been looking at the Christmas books Bob has sent them between 1944 and 1947 ["From the Shiffolds"]: feels sure they 'contain some of the best' of Bob's work, and is 'very glad indeed to have them'. It is a 'partial relief... to turn to poetry from the tremendous and shattering events' of the time, of which 'many people seem so unaware'. Thinks the world is at a crisis, but is 'not without hope'; has just read Jung's latest book of essays, "On Contemporary Events", which he is sure would interest Bob. Jung has a 'wide and deep vision'; believes he is right that 'the best we can do is to look for The Shadow in ourselves', though it is very 'easy to project it onto others'. Would like Bob to listen to his wireless talk on the [BBC] Third Programme on 17 January, about the books of Karen Blixen. She knows 'in her own intuitive manner almost as much about life, both conscious and unconscious, as does Jung by other methods'; he believes she is a 'genius', and no longer hesitates to 'make extravagant claims for her'.

Is envying Bob's classical scholarship particularly at the moment: has always wanted to write a novel about the first century and is now beginning work on it. Plans to 'start on Appolonia [sic'] before moving scene to Cyprus, Palestine, and the West African Coast, so will have to do 'quite a lot of reading' on background, geography, politics, and 'the relatedness of ideas, Neo-Platonism, Gnosticism, and Hebrew sects, with perhaps influence from Egypt coming in'. Bob will think him 'a very rash man, and ignorant to be so rash'; wishes he could 'drop in' for a talk with him. Sends best wishes to both Trevelyans.

Kings College Cambridge [headed notepaper). - Asks if she would be free on Thursday 9th; if so, would 'very much like' to visit for lunch, to see her and 'talk about our talks on the 20th [at the ceremony to mark the opening of Robert Trevelyan's memorial library at Birkbeck'. Fears he would have to return in the afternoon. If that is not convenient, perhaps it would suit her to meet another day in London.

Is doing a broadcast on Bayreuth, and 'must tidy up my script! Florence [Barger] has gone off to America!"

West Melville, Northam, Devon. - Very pleased to get Bob's book of poems and to find some he did not know; good to have the ones he does know together, especially 'in this new form so easily adapted to the pocket'. Wishes he could come and see Bob and Bessie, but visits are not easy at the moment: 'Even though one carries a nosebag' [i.e. takes food rations] the demand on one's host's hospitality is 'not easy to meet;. Would love to 'stroll' with Bob on his terrace and talk. May manage to get to London in autumn, and hopes then to visit Raisley [Moorsom?] and his family. Wonders whether Bob has seen his autobiography, "But To What Purpose"; thinks it would interest him, though he may think he has been 'too severe on Bedales'. Learned a 'great deal' from writing it; may perhaps have 'more to learn'.

He and Katharine very much like their new home, which is 'the half of a beautiful old house', with 'the most lovely garden'; regrets that that is a 'very expensive item', and he finds it difficult not to work too hard there. Has 'slipped somehow, rather unwillingly, into [radio] broadcasts', and is about to record two 'Empire broadcasts' in the "Men and Book" series, one on Melville and the other on Conrad. Will take a 'very different approach from the fellow who talked on these two the other night on the Third Programme [William Plomer?]' They have just come back from a conference at Birmingham, having heard some interesting papers and discussions, particularly the papers by Wilson Knight on "Imagination" and [William?] Chaning Pearce on "Existentialism and Christianity". Wilson Knight's lecture was a 'masterpiece of extemporary speaking'; expects Bob knows "The Wheel of Fire" and "The Imperial Theme", Knight's writings on Shakespeare, and recommends them if he does not. Love to the Trevelyans from both Grant Watsons.

Kennet House, Harrow on the Hill [on headed notepaper for 2 High Street, Harrow on the Hill]. - Thanks Trevelyan for his 'very handsome Christmas present [his "Collected Works"]: will add it to the books at his bed-side and looks forward to 'making new and renewing old acquaintances'. Was 'such fun' to visit the Shiffolds after 'so many years'; was 'delighted' to find them all at home; such 'rash experiments of unpredicted calls' are not always so successful. Hopes to visit again, but this will not be in term-time [at Harrow]; they are 'much imprisoned by black-outs and ARP [air raid precautions]. Will escape to do a ten-minutes broadcast [on the BBC Home Service] on 30 January, 'very familiar Wordsworth'. Sends greetings to Mrs Trevelyan and Mr and Mrs Sturge Moore. Adds postscript asking whether Trevelyan would be interested in the article about [Paul Cairn?] Vellacott in this week's "Harrovian", written by the Housemaster of the Grove [Leonard Henry], a 'historian like his subject'; will send a copy if so.

As from 129 Wendell Road, Shepherd's Bush, W.12. - Thanks her for her letter and news; does 'sympathise' with her over 'this miserable upheaval [the possibility of moving from the Shiffolds]. Sorrow in itself is wretched enough' and from it comes 'the necessity for choices and decisions - at a time when one longs to rest and drift'. She also does 'not have the haven Cambridge so miraculously opened for' him. Julian seems the 'obvious person' for advice, but Forster supposes he 'is not what is called "good" at it, and no amount of trying can produce that sort of "goodness".

Is writing partly as he is 'broadcasting on the Third Programme on the subject of the Third Programme on Saturday and Monday. Great solemnity - recording van sent specially to the Buckinghams in case my ankle [which he had recently broken] feels tired'. He 'got out of plaster earlier this month', and spent a 'pleasant week' in Aldeburgh. His ankle has been 'rather troublesome' since then, but he understands this is 'not unusual'. Has a 'most comfortable and genteel shoe', and is seeing the surgeon again next week. Is just about to leave for London now by car, partly so that he can pick up Agnes [Dowland] at Barnet.

Thinks 'the opera [Billy Budd, for which Forster had written the libretto] will be fine'; has now heard it all, and has been 'strumming at' a proof copy of the piano score this morning. They have still not found a singer to play Billy: he 'must look fine, so central European stomachs are unfortunately excluded'. The final possibility is 'a young man who cannot sing all the notes', as the part is a high baritone. Forster is 'all for having him. What do a few notes matter?'.

Has not seen Florence [Barger] since her return, but has spoken to her on the phone, she 'seemed most happy and prosperous'. Is using another sheet of paper to 'urge you, whatever you decide [about her home and future] not to be too unselfish, but to procure whatever money can provide towards the comfort of your body and mind'.

Occurs to him that she might like to see the enclosed piece [no longer present], written for 'a "Reader's Club" magazine in the States which has been founded by Auden, Trilling and Barzun', whom he respects: they have chosen his new book [Two Cheers for Democracy] for this October, and requested 'something for the magazine'; asks if she can return it.

Postcript: 'Unfinished novel [what was later published in short story form as The Open Boat?] in an awful mess I fear'.

For the Home, European and Overseas Services, given in English, German and Danish
D.9: Drafts for several talks in English, Danish translation of 'How the hydrogen bomb works', correspondence.
D.10: Press-cuttings and correspondence from general public arising from broadcast.

British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London, W.1; sent to Trevelyan c/o Lady Trevelyan, Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth, Northumberland. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter; he is right to assume he will be reading his translations as well as the script for his talk on Catullus.

Thanks Hassall for his letter; will be at the BBC on 27 August at 4.30. Sees in the "Radio Times" that Rex Warner will have a reader for his Lucretius talk; checks if he himself will be reading his script and translations.

Talk for the BBC Third Programme, broadcast January 1954 and also in Italian translation.
Draft, Italian translation, correspondence 1953-54.

British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London, W.1. - Glad to hear Trevelyan has been able to lengthen his script on Catullus; hopes it was not too much trouble, and is sure it will be just right. Asks Trevelyan to send the script with additions before the end of next week as it needs to be copied and distributed; will send a copy as soon as possible, with details of the studio and rehearsal. Looks forward to meeting him on 27 August.

Talk broadcast in English and German, 1953, and also in Italian translation.
Notes only for English version, German translation by Frisch, text of Italian translation, correspondence.

Typescript with MS annotation on the hydrogen bomb. Possibly for radio series on the bomb.

The first talk in a series of ten on the hydrogen bomb given by Frisch for the European Service of BBC Radio.
6 pp duplicated typescript with MS annotation.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Bessie ‘cannot imagine how consoling’ her letter was, ‘nor Bob how well placed his flounce. The whole thing was done without my knowledge [the adaptation and broadcast of his story The Eternal Moment], and the first news he had of it was ‘the ghastly sketch in the Radio Times’. As she may imagine, ‘rows are in progress’: with his publishers, who gave permission without consulting him, as they are bound to do by the terms of the contract; and with the producer [Howard Rose] ‘for his discourtesy in ignoring me, and for supposing that an author doesn’t know anything [crossed through] can’t help over his own book’.

The contrast between ‘this insensitive hack’ and Leonard Cottrell, producer of The Celestial Omnibus, is ‘extraordinary’; Cottrell consulted him throughout, and invited him to Manchester for the rehearsal. Will let her see the letters if she likes. Is ‘taking it all to the Society of Authors’, and then will ‘ask for an interview with someone in the B.B.C., as this sort of thing must be stopped’. Notes that they acted legally [in obtaining permission from his publishers].

Looks forward to visiting soon. The cold has been ‘terrible’, and they are ‘still not feeling the better for it’. Chi’en was ‘nice’, but Forster criticises his English: ‘I once ventured to Chi’en that his lectures were becoming difficult to follow. He beamed and continues to deteriorate. Something is wrong with the Chinese after all, I fancy’. Went to Cambridge last week ‘to speak to Indians’; did not see Bertie [Bertrand Russell], but his lectures ‘continue a huge success, and the other dons are most critical: - jealousy partly, partly the uneasy knowledge that he upholds humanism in a community which has betrayed it’. His mother sends her love.

Talk for BBC Home Service, broadcast 3 February 1950.
7pp typescript with MS amendments and covering note. Photocopy.

British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London, W.1. - Very 'grateful' to Trevelyan for writing and delivering his script so quickly; very much likes it as it gives a 'vivid impression of the man and its work'. On reading it aloud it only came to eighteen minutes, and the ideal length is twenty three minutes; feels they should add about three and a half pages in Trevelyan's typed script. The Lucretius and Horace scripts [for earlier talks in the same series] quote the original Latin; suggests that Trevelyan does not disrupt his 'so well constructed script' by interpolation, but elaborates on his sentences at the end on Catullus's 'less ambitious lyrics', with quotations in both Latin and translation. Loves the translations Trevelyan has already included. Does not want to be a 'nuisance' to someone as 'exemplary' as Trevelyan, but thinks a longer script will be necessary; sure he will be glad to have the chance to say more about this 'great poet'. The rehearsal time will be on Trevelyan's contract; thinks it will be at 4.30 pm on 27 August, at Broadcasting House.

Heavily-revised typescript draft with a MS note 'BBC 1951(?)'.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Bessie for her letter; will be 'interested to read Sykes Davies' when it comes'. Will not write to him again, and 'of course... will not put the Committee on to his new address [see ADD/TRER/52]. Hopes she will be able to persuade Sykes Davies to return the books; thinks that if the Library had them back 'it wouldn't worry over his lapsed subscription'. He and his mother are very glad 'the honeysuckle travelled well'; they enjoyed Bessie's call 'so much', and hopes she calls again.

Talks given in English and German for Overseas Service, broadcast 1952:
'The atomic nucleus - what is it made of?'
'The atomic nucleus - how does it hold together?'
'The atomic nucleus - new ideas about its structure'
Scripts in English and German, correspondence, plans of talks 1951-52.

Is sending Hassall his script [for his BBC talk on Catullus) in good time; has read it aloud several times and it seems to take about twenty-five minutes; suggests the passage from Swinburne could be left out, and has also marked four lines in pencil he could take out from the "Attis" translation [Catullus 63].

West Hackhurst. - Hopes his wire reached her in good time; had been staying with the Kennets and only just got her letter. Monday the 28th would 'suit splendidly'; asks her to drop him a line to confirm nearer the time. Will of course meet her bus and take her back to it; she will have 'coffee on arrival, tea on departure, and alcohol between times - if acceptable, that is to say'.

He does 'dislike voices against music when there is no reason for it, but there was a reason here [further discussion of the BBC broadcast of his short story The Celestial Omnibus, see also TRER/ADD/45-46], and for the music being Wagner'. Believes the first chapter of A Passage to India is to be broadcast on the 28th, 'some unearthly hour of the night as usual'.

His mother looks forward to seeing Bessie.

D.46: 1960. Correspondence, proposals, etc. for a projected programme 'Science International'. Frisch was asked to serve as 'Visual Technical Adviser' and submitted a draft script on elementary particles. Plans for the programme were later cancelled.
D.47: 1961-62
D.48: 1964-79. 1964 includes contribution to film biography of Einstein. 1973 programme on Bohr 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier'. 1979 Open University programme on 'Science and Belief'
D.49: n.d. Miscellaneous shorter correspondence.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Bessie for her letter about The Celestial Omnibus [an adaptation of his short story broadcast on BBC radio, see TRER/ADD/45], with which he 'disagree[s] pretty completely!'. Acknowledges that 'one can pick holes in the production, as in everything', but thought that it was generally 'intelligent and in good taste, and the boy, with his unpriggishness and unsophistication couldn't have been better'. Asks if he is 'being nasty now'. Encloses Florence [a letter by Florence Barger]; his mother and aunt [Rosalie] agree with her, as does Kathleen Kennet, 'who started listening with the utmost hostility' and 'Mr Herbert E. Gibbs, otherwise unknown'. He will, with his 'noted fairmindedness' forward Bessie's letter to Florence and 'extend this salutary disquiet'.

Hopes that later in the month, after the 20th, she might be able to visit them 'unsupervised by Molly [Trevelyan?]' for coffee and tea. Postscript conveying his mother's love.

Sent to Bessie at The Shiffolds; postmarked Dorking. - Thinks she and Bob know that [his short story] The Celestial Omnibus is 'to be broadcast as a play' but sends a reminder in case they 'care to listen'. It will be broadcast on Tuesday Sept 1st, 'at the unearthly hour of 10.35 P. M.'.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thanks Bessie for her letter and enclosure. His mother 'seems none the worse for her inquisitiveness', and he has some 'nice warm socks and a sort of waistcoat with a shoulder cape - very cosy'. Is glad none of them are ill, but 'this cold is scaring'; very sorry about Sturge Moore'. Will send Bob three tickets as soon as he can find them; if he cannot, he fears he will have 'no audience'. Hopes they are in his flat. Must now go out to bring up the coal. Has to go and broadcast to India tomorrow about The Return of the Native. Is reading Jeans' Science and Music, which he expects she knows.

Two talks for 'Science Review' nos. 100 and 101, broadcast January and March 1950.
Scripts and correspondence 1949-50

Thanks Hassall for his letter. Would like to use his own translations of seven short poems, and possibly a few lines from the "Attis" (Catullus 63); is not using anybody else's translations [for his BBC talk on Catullus). Has almost finished his script and will send it in a few days so Hassall will have ample time to 'criticise and suggest alterations'

Contribution to Christmas edition of 'Science in Action', World Service, December 1969.

Script of broadcast (other contributors were K. Lonsdale, A.F. Huxley, J. Needham), brief correspondence.

Contributions to two series of nine programmes each, broadcast under this title in Study Session (Network Three) 1967.
By invitation, Frisch submitted the general plan of the series, acted as consultant on speakers and scripts, and gave the introductory and the concluding talks 'What is Physics?' and 'The Future of Physics'.
A booklet 'Growing points in physics' was produced by BBC Publications in conjunction with the series, to which Frisch contributed an introduction.
D.36: Correspondence re planning of series, including Frisch's outline for all the talks, suggestions for speakers, etc. 1966-67, and a little later correspondence 1973.
D.37: Draft and broadcast scripts, booklet, etc.