Letters tipped into a paper-bound notebook labelled ‘Letters Book I’ on front:
Undated, ‘My dear Peter. What a pleasant surprise!’ 4 sheets. A lengthy narrative describes how Peter's gift reminds him of climbing Moricelli in Italy and finding shells there in a pool, similar to those Peter has sent; writes at length about his own story about an anchorite.
[1 Aug. 1944?], ‘Well Peter; here in London and finding it most exciting too’ 2 sheets. Life in London during bombing [Doodlebug Summer], and the attitude to death and reaction to bombing raids, lunchtime bombing of Kensington High St. Disagrees that modern war is not romantic.
Undated, ‘Saturday 1944’ 4 sheets. He meant Peter to understand that he was parodying Peter's style in his last letter, and is disappointed that Peter did not see this; has seen Ernest Milton in Macbeth, and discusses Wolfit in 3 Shakespeare plays; finds it is easy to be Shylockian; is disappointed in his (Denis') story, thinks he is too young yet, will put it away until he is older.
Envelope dated 23 Mar. 1945
Undated, Friday: 11th: 1944 1 sheet. Sends a volume of Italian short stories.
Undated, ‘Thursday. I feel very vicious this morning’ 1 sheet, with two pen-and-ink drawing of himself looking irate on verso. Asks him to write.
Undated, ‘Yes you are right!’ 5 sheets. Reflections on a quarrel they've had; has also been called up, asks for information on his medical, and hopes they can get assigned to the same camp.
11 Nov. 1944 79 Brook Green, London, W.6. 2 sheets, with pen-and-ink drawing at top and tail of letter. Has nothing to write, encloses a book by Forester which will teach Peter to write economically; praises Richard Goolden and Helen Pollack [Ellen Pollock?] in "To True To Be Good".
Rest blank
Is enjoying the Army, hopes to see them in London when he is on leave before going to Sandhurst.
79 Brook Green, London, W.6. - Comments on Peter's interaction with men who suffer under the Profit Machine; has done well in the Army, his training was accelerated and he is going to Sandhurst; hopes to see him.
C. Comp., 161 Inf. (Octu) RMC, Sandhurst, Surrey - Thanks for the weekend; describes Sandhurst; saw Mrs Ebden in their old neighbourhood.
RMC Sandhurst - Discusses the Army, sinecures, patriotism, bonding, discipline, subordination at the price of a spirit of independence and inquiry.
No. 1 Infantry Training Centre, Brentwood Barracks, Brentwood - Reacts to the photo of Peter dressed as a Bevin Boy: "melancholy, shy and charmingly out of touch with the rough background"; reflects on the soldiers under him, town bred, "precocious and partially atrophied, defrauded of the full heritage as humans"; will have some leave in London, hopes to see Peter.
Brook Green - Makes plans to meet in London.
Brook Green, W.6. - Concerns plans to meet; hates London.
GBD. Almaya, Officers Mess, Cairo, MEF - Is waiting for an assignment, hopefully to Abyssinia as a captain; describes his journey there; describes the Egyptians, the land, the sun, the paradoxical luxury of Cairo.
c/o Mme M. L. Duchêne, 10 Rue Ch. Bonnet, Geneva, Switzerland - Has arrived after a journey by jeep over mountains; has received Peter's poem ["The Worm"?], and discusses it in detail: the sin of diffusion, suggests pruning and more sensual use of language, more suspense, notes he will not create lyricism by constant lyrical flows, concluding that it is a worthwhile failure; suggests he eschew self-pity; is writing something of his own that started out as a diary in Jan. 1945.
169 Transit Camp, Khartoum - A pleasure to hear from Peter after the 'Great Silence'; is now in North Abyssinia in a job meant for an older man, has matured, feels successful, and loves his life and the Sudanese, hunts and fishes, flies all over Africa as his best friend is a pilot; no culture in the same way as is understood in Northern Europe.
Is back from a spell of time farming in Gloucestershire, enjoyed it but is also glad to return to town; received some enormous letters from Jerry [Weinstein] while there. Discusses the difference between Classic and Romantic drama that Peter had begun in a previous letter, and then discusses the plays of Oscar Wilde; shall be interested to read his story about kings in biscuit tins or islands in hip-pockets etc.
Brook Green - Has received his disconsolate letter; warns him that he will not really get to know these new people, and that there is a principle of evil amongst many people; they will be different than those people he's found at home and at public school.
Brook Green, W.6. - Enlarges on Peter's suggestion about non-utilitarian aesthetes, proposes Peter should make it immoral for the aesthetes to be useless, and suggests running an experiment on a private island; discusses Chopin, "Don't Take it to Heart", and laziness.
Gallowgate Camp, Yorkshire - Draws a distinction between a person with a utility of purpose rather than of action; finds his new life fulfills his need for physical triumphs; disagrees with him on Lawrence and Millais; discusses the idea of how one would put [E. M. Forster's] "A Passage to India" on film, with music by Walton; will go to India soon; asks about "The Gongi" illustrations.
Gallowgate Camp, Yorkshire - Plans for an upcoming leave; compares army life to being in a play; will illustrate "The Gongi" but hasn't yet read it.
Gallowgate Camp, Yorkshire - Will be reassigned to Kent, describes what he will miss about Yorkshire; discusses Eisenstein's The film sense; cannot answer his question about film greatness and asks what distinguishes one work of art from another; does not recollect "Angels over Broadway" well; refuses to engage in a discussion on architecture.
Brook Green - Is not yet called up; ran across Jerry and Humphrey in London; discusses Crime and punishment.
Plat 6, Com. A, 6 D.W.R. (P.T.C.), Sobroan Barracks Colchester, Essex - Is now in the Army, and finds he is invigorated and content; asks for a renewal of correspondence.