Showing 52 results

Department of Manuscripts, British Museum, London, W.C.1. - Is happy to hear the work is completed; confirms permission to have the two cases there; will be pleased to receive the promised manuscript; is grateful for the offer of the chairs and folding table.
Accompanied by an envelope with note "From The Keeper of the MSS British Museum about the 2 boxes of books & Notebooks Left in the lobby M.S.S. Department B. Museum".

The four volumes [of Bob's "Collected Works"] will 'completely dwarf' his own when together on the shelf. Asks if Bob has seen Douglas Bush's "Mythology and the Romantic tradition in English Poetry" ("Harvard Studies in English" Vol. 18), which he recently read at the British Library; it discusses the mythological poetry [Robert] Bridges], Bob, [Lascelles] Abercrombie, [Laurence] Binyon and Sturge Moore himself, concentrating on Bridges and Sturge Moore but 'treating us all seriously'. Heard about it from Frederick Gwynn, a pupil of Bush, who intends to write a book about Sturge Moore's poetry as his thesis ["Sturge Moore and the Life of Art", Richards Press ; University of Kansas Press, 1952] and hopes to spend next year in England. Gwynn will be one of the 'most careful readers' of Bob's "Collected Works". 'Education and Universities' do good at least in providing 'readers even for the unpopular' and students who 'appreciate other than fashionable qualities'. He and Marie will be 'proud' to own Bob's book.

The Countess [Karen] Blixen's "Out of Africa" has 'charming chapters'; her 'little Kikuyu protegé' believed Blixen could write a book as 'big and as hard as the Odyssey', but not that she could 'make it blue', like her copy of Homer; Bob's book would fulfil all points. Blixen does not write perfect English, but 'her psychology and style are both poetical and most interesting in unexpected ways'. Heard about the book from Binyon; it is a 'real delight, though unequal in places'. Met Julian and Ursula at the London Theatre Studio on Friday night: Julian is 'very charming and seems to have an "Out of Africa" touch not like a Giraffe but like some human equivalent' which the Countess may have 'discovered and appreciated', since she had a 'flair for the really valuable & rare'.

22 cuttings of articles in which Frazer is mentioned personally or in which his books are mentioned as a source for a discussion of local customs and folklore, from England, France, and the United States; they include a mention of 'Passages of the Bible' in Reginald Pound's 'Roadside Reading' in 'John O' London's Weekly' of 25 Aug. 1939 (Item 28/156); and a mention of Frazer's donation of 55 notebooks to the British Museum in the 'Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph' of 27 Nov. 1939 (Item 28/159).

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Looking forward to seeing something of Elizabeth; she is going to a concert, and he and Caroline to 'what I suppose we may call Bernard Shaw's play' ["Fanny's First Play", put on anonymously]. Cannot remember the Theognis, but will re-read him at Welcombe; very like a piece by Heine; the translation is 'very Greek'. Has been reading the British Museum publication of the 'white Greek vases' from 1898; these were 'exquisitely simple and conventional'. Went with Caroline this morning to the [Royal] Academy; saw 'more to like' but nothing he would like to buy or own; Sargent's "Waterfall" would be 'wonderful' to see 'through the door of the next room but one', and [John Lavery's] "The Amazon" 'at the end of a great hall'; does not like Sargent's "Anna Seddon". Still need to go to the New English Gallery; this is 'the best month for London'.

Grosvenor House, Chiswick Lane, W. - has 'just taken off a pair of white kid gloves' after reading "Sisyphus" for the third time, this time aloud to [his wife] Agnes; claims to have worn them for each reading, as befitting 'a thing so elegant'. Is still 'too dizzy with the brilliance' of the piece to say anything coherent. Is curious about the 'appropriate sort of music'; imagines it as 'a mixture of Strauss the Waltz King with Strauss the composer of "Also sprach Zarathustra"', but there must be 'nothing gross... even the flattest farcical bits must be lightly covered in a starry enchantment'. Does not know how the musician can 'keep within the bounds of the verse', but expects this has been considered and is 'no good at metres'; in any case a listener can understand the lines 'even when mutilated by an unskilled reader', as Agnes followed them easily. Is afraid he took the first two acts 'too pompously', which was not the fault of the kid gloves as he forgot he was wearing them; took the last act 'more lightly and more colloquially' which he thinks Agnes wanted. Much refreshed by reading "Sisyphus", which came just as he had sent the second third of his "[Richard] Savage: [A Mystery Biography]" to the printer, and was kept at home and off his own work by sciatica. Hopes to get to the [British] Museum for more research tomorrow; supposes Trevelyan will not be in London for some time, but would like to meet, and hear more about the music. Postscript asking for a clarification of a point in the text.

Is going to London the following Thursday for a few days, mainly to read at the [British] Museum. Inquires as whether Myers will be there. States that he intends 'to go southward visiting and to visit on 28 [March]. Tells Myers to expect a letter from him from London if he does not see him.

7 Audley Square, W.1. - Regrets he cannot meet Moret, congratulates Frazer on the new recognition [the Légion d'honneur]; is delighted with the woodcut, suggests sending one to Campbell Dodgson in the Prints & Drawings Department at the British Museum and one to the National Portrait Gallery.

Heckfield Place, Winchfield. - Milnes' recommendation of Mr Patmore for vacancy in British Museum Department of Antiquities will be considered; many candidates. Bustle at new Palace [of Westminster] yesterday' 'No body quiet save the Bishop, or Mitred Abbot, whom they have lately discovered in the Crypt [William Lyndwood]'; hopes Parliament will not be in similar confusion.

Printed form completed in manuscript thanking Frazer for the gift of two specimens of the donor's handwriting: the first leaf of 'Recollections of the Battle of Dorking' and 'Reply to an Address', presented to the donor on the occasion of the foundation of the Frazer lectureship; form signed by George Hill.

13, Hanover Terrace, Ladbroke Grove, W.11. - Has signed an agreement with Constable & Co. to publish "One Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems" by 1 May [1918]; it will be sold at six shillings. Has not been doing much translation recently, but researching Chinese letters; thinks these would be good. There are only seven of Po Chu-i's surviving. Unfortunately the [British] Museum is 'very poor in this branch of literature', but there is a collection of 'letters by famous men' at the Cambridge University Library. Asks Trevelyan whether he will be in town; perhaps he will see him at the 1917 Club on Wednesday. Copies out a poem he has written, beginning 'On the back of a visiting-card / On a spill picked out of the grate...' which he fears is 'rather absurd'.

Invites her up [to Cambridge] for Easter Sunday. Says that he will write again from town, where he is going to stay with his friend Cowell. States that he shall be back in Cambridge by the following Wednesday or before. Reports that he has begun reading at the British Museum, and praises the facilities there. Refers to an enclosed list of questions [not included] sent to him from his aunt, which, he admits, he has neglected. Observes that some of the difficulties are theological, not critical, and believes that the writers 'had at best a very dim realization of the immortality of the soul.' Undertakes to write to his aunt also.

Department of Manuscripts, British Museum, London, W.C.1. - In the letter of 22 March he reports that he cannot accommodate Frazer past May 1st, as staff is increasing and space is not available; would like to have a manuscript of Frazer's in the library. In the letter of 23 March he thanks her for the gift.

British Museum, London, W.C.1. - Hopes the 'anti-flu apparatus' [see 17/27] has reached Trevelyan; it 'may puzzle the customs-authorities'; supposes Trevelyan will get leave at Christmas. London is 'intolerable this week' [due to the armistice]; it is 'impossible to get dinner at a restaurant' because of the crowds; supposes things will 'subside gradually. Paris must have been even more emotional'. Hopes Trevelyan can 'bear that sort of thing'; he himself 'very much dislike[s] women's voices which are so prominent at times like these'. The [British Museum] Print Room is as 'good a refuge from Peace as it was from War'. The conscientious objectors are all wondering whether their services will still be require, most favour 'eloping'. His younger brother [Hubert] hopes to get into the Treasury until 'Peace is properly fixed up'; his other brother [Sigismund] will of course go back when he is out of hospital'. Looks forward to 'tremendous conversations about Literature' when Trevelyan returns.

Inquires as to whether he left any 'Boot, Shoes or Goloshes' in his bedroom at her house. Quotes lines of verse 'The heart, bereaved, of why and how..' [from A Song of Autumn by Clough]. Asks her to send any of these items to him, if found, to an address in London. Informs that he writes the postcard in the British Museum Library, because [the staff] will not bring him the books he ordered.

29 Beaufort St, Chelsea:- Has just returned from Harrow, where he goes to 'get a game [of football] once a week' to keep himself 'very fit in body and mind'. Bowen had got up a 'team of masters and old boys' against the boys of his house, 'which is very good this year'. Robert's team were 'Somehow' beaten 6-0, but Bowen 'covered himself with glory, playing better than he has done for years'; he also told Robert he 'played like a hero'.

Met Charlie in the morning at the B[ritish] M[useum] Library, 'getting up the question of State Railways'; he is 'much interested in a scheme for a progressive periodical [the Progressive Review] which [William] Clarke, late of the Chronicle, and a young Socialist, [Ramsay?] MacDonald, are going to start next year. It is to be to these dregs of times what the Edinburgh Review was to be to those other dark days'. It 'promises to do well', and Robert wishes it 'God-speed', though they say it 'has as yet no Brougham, much less its Sidney Smith'. Bernard Shaw, whom Robert saw recently in a restaurant, told him 'with his usual superb egotism', that if they had wanted the paper to succeed, they ought to have asked him to 'write a series of articles, as he knew the secret of making a splash and drawing the gaze of the public'. However, 'Clarke cant stand G.B.S., calling him an anarchist and a Jacobin', and Shaw is a 'little piqued at being out of it'.

[Roger] Fry has a cold today and has taken to his bed 'as he always does at the slightest alarm'; this is sensible as 'his colds are both more sudden and more formidable than other people's'. He is doing well otherwise, and has 'just finished some theatrical scenery for a friend [a pencil note suggests this is 'Badley - [at] Bedales']' - the wood in Midsummer Night's Dream] - which is as good as anything Robert has seen by him, 'though you can't get very rich colour effects in tempera'. Their next door neighbours, Ricket[t]s and Shannon, have 'just brought out a magazine... a single Christmas number [The Pageant]' for which they have obtained contributions from 'all the great names in the literary and artistic word' such as Swinburne, Bridges, Maeterlinck, Verlaine, Burne Jones and Watts. There is 'some fine work in it, and some very queer'; Robert's friend [Thomas Sturge] Moore has two short poems included, though Robert does not think them his best. Will show his parents the magazine when they return. Shannon and Ricketts are 'taking to publishing poetry'; he believes they 'make a great success', and hopes that knowing them 'might be useful in the future'.

Is putting this letter into an envelope he finds 'on C[harles]'s table' with his parents' name on it but not yet their address. Expects they will soon be in Rome. Is going to see Aunt Annie [Philips] next week' does not plan to go abroad as he is 'very well, and do not feel the cold'. He will go to Welcombe for a few days, but otherwise stay in London unless 'the frost gives [him] colds'. Is glad their travelling is going so well, and that they like Gregorovius: it is 'always pleasant work welcoming a new historical star', though he doubts this one is 'of the first magnitude'.