Writes from the German course at Middlebury College, Vermont. Has left the apartment he shared with his cousin Harold [Rosenberg], will probably be the building superintendent in Frances [Whyte]'s apartment house; thinks they will be married inside a year; describes the course at Middlebury College; has a lead on a teaching job at [Sarah Lawrence College] and at Columbia University; asks for news of Richard [Mayne?], Brian and Tony, and Dave Calhoun.
It has been a long time since he has written and since PS has written; reflects on the change in his affections and refers to their relationship before Frances [Whyte] arrived and speculates that it would have degenerated instead of being abruptly cut off; shares what he has learned in analysis about his relationships; is afraid that he has put too much into the relationship to let it evolve into a friendship now; has seen Dave [Calhoun] and when they speak of Cambridge finds they are speaking of the Shaffers; mentions thrilling progress on analysis, Frances, and career but does not go into detail.
Felt close to PS when he went to an all Brahms concert conducted by [Adrian] Boult and heard Isaac Stern; hears that Judy [?] has married, wished he had passed that on; has made a friend who was wondering whether to become a rabbi or a minister and was studying philosophy of religion and is now just studying philosophy; hasn't heard from Dave [Calhoun], didn't go to his wedding; is getting along very well with Frances [Whyte]; is distressed to hear that PS has given up analysis, thinks he needs to find another analyst he likes better; hasn't taken another piano lesson; rest of his time is spent studying French and German for the PhD.
Encloses a letter for Dave [Calhoun] in hopes it reaches him before he leaves Cambridge; describes his schedule with psychiatric analysis, dental work, courses in German and French to attain reading proficiency by the autumn, and piano lessons. He and Frances [Whyte] are getting on well; it has been a year since Frances arrived in England; wonders how things are going with Judy [?].
Describes his difficulty in focusing on work, finds analysis painful, has distanced himself from his family except for Frances [Whyte]; is going to hear Solomon [Cutner] in his American debut, [Artur] Schnabel has cancelled concerts due to illness, is going to three performances of the New York Philharmonic conducted by [Bruno] Walter including one featuring [Clifford] Curzon, and two ballets featuring [Alexandra] Danilova and [Alicia] Markova; the best thing he has seen is Marcel Pagnol's film 'Marius', which has the texture of a novel; asks for details of his psychiatrist; asks about friends there, news of Dave Calhoun and Tony, glad to hear Mr Wisdom is looking good.
Is very busy, but has wanted to yell at PS since getting his letter; doesn't agree that his [Mal's] situation is easier than Peter's and tells him to lay off; still thinks PS should undergo analysis; his relationship with Frances [Whyte] is good but they are doomed; give his best to Tony, Brian, Dave [Calhoun], and Seymour Betsky if he's still there.
Went to see 'A Night at the Opera', doesn't like it as much as PS does; was thrilled to watch Toscanini broadcasting from a small studio; briefly mentions a joint recital by [Artur] Schnabel and [Joseph] Szigeti and also the Boston Symphony under Koussevitsky; has seen 'Edward, My Son' with a memorable performance by Peggy Ashcroft; admires the film 'Louisiana Story' with its score by Virgil Thomson; bridles at PS's statement that 'in America analysis is just like going to the toilet [struck out] I mean cloakroom'; suggests PS get himself to an analyst like Henry [Leonard?] Wilson and suggests he prove a correlation between the Bevin Boy Business and his poor psychiatric state despite actually being 'loused up' before in order to get it paid for; could hardly believe he was writing about religion but won't lecture him despite being baited; tried to break up with Frances [Whyte] last month to no avail and mentions the private language he had with PS (Cuban); his father [Walter Diamond] is paying for analysis after meeting the analyst; tells him not to worry about PS's effect on his analysis, rather it gives him something to say; wishes he would not apologise for everything; hopes Dave [Calhoun] is well.
Has been very busy getting ready to leave the country, has been with Frances [Whyte] continually and hasn't been able to write; describes what he's been doing since PS left, describes a trip to Oxford, where they especially liked Magdalen's Deer Park; spent time with Dave Calhoun who reminded them of his father [Robert Lowry Calhoun], spent time talking of philosophy, thinks Brian [Shaffer] will enjoy his company; went to see 'Othello' at Stratford and describes the play, agrees with him about [John] Quayle's Iago, and discusses John Justin's Cassio, [Paul] Scofield's Roderigo, Diana [Wynyard]'s Desdemona, and [Ena] Burrill's Emilia; describes their visit to Warwick Castle, Canterbury, hitchhiking, visiting Tony, Brian, and Reka at Windyridge; is to sail on one of the converted troop ships leaving [Southampton] the next day; saw 'Naked City' and thought it well done; really liked 'Oliver Twist' which he has seen twice; is reading 'Pride and Prejudice', but thinks Aldous Huxley wrote a good screenplay; his feelings have not stayed the same in this past month, given he has been immersed in another love, 'Nature, society, everything was for this and against us'; his love for Frances in no way dims his feelings for Peter.
Is still in Southampton, hasn't heard from his contact in Paris; went to the Isle of Wight in stormy weather; maybe she [Celeste Holm?] is like that in real life, given her compassionate Ado Annie; would really like to see Olivier and Richardson do 'Othello' at the Old Vic if that comes to pass; has given up on [getting a job in] Germany; is glad to hear PS's tone of semi-resignation, thinks PS will get over him in the 'giddy round of hardly quiet fun' that awaits him in Cambridge; they've said what needs saying 'as to the sexual fears', and has faith in their ability to get past this; is thrilled at the sound of the latest 'undertaking' [unidentified]; describes meeting on a ferry Dave Calhoun, the son of his professor at Yale who is going to Cambridge, will be a Henry Fellow like Dud Towne was (who he describes), thinks Dave will make Brian [Shaffer] a good friend, as someone with common interests and 'sharp enough to stay with him'; saw the Olivier 'Pride and Prejudice', 'like a good symphony being butchered'. The letter continues the next day, arranges a time for PS to call; the news from the [Frances] Whyte-Diamond front is good: 'you'll be much relieved to see us getting on so beautifully', part of which is an active sex life.
Is pleased to hear from him, would like to meet.
Would like to be back in touch with Peter.