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… read more
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… read more
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… read more
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… read more
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… read more
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… read more
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… read more
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.