Showing 89 results

35 St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Very much liked Bob's poem [in the "New Statesman" about Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson]; was staying with Barry [Alfred Barratt Brown?] when it appeared, who read it out. They are coming [to Surrey?] tomorrow until Sunday night; asks if Bob is coming over; they will suggest going to the Allens' for tea on Sunday.

Woodhill Cottage, Shamley Green, Guildford. - They consider themselves 'among the lucky ones' to get a copy of Bob's Christmas poems ["From the Shiffolds"]; these are 'doubly welcome this time' since they were 'rather bowled over by that bitter weather after Christmas'. Marjory [Allen?] helped them by 'renting out one of her old-time housekeepers', Miss Johnson, whom Bob might 'remember from C[lifford] A[llen]'s time': Bob's poems have given them 'great spiritual refreshment', and with 'Johnny' [Miss Johnson] here they have been able to 'enjoy them unhurriedly'.

As from Woodhill Cottage, Shamley Green, Guildford. - Thanks Bob for the 'sheaf of lovely poems': meant to bring them with her, but 'packed in such a hurry' that she forgot; expect Marjory [Allen?] has told him 'some of the circumstances' behind her hasty departure. Is now 'steeling [herself] to bear her absence'.

Has already sent Flora Santayana's "Last of the Puritans" [sic; "The Last Puritan]; she need not rush to return it, and he will be interested to hear what she thinks; wonders if she will also read the life of Tennyson, which he and Bessie have read 'with great interest'. as well as a life of Sara Bernhardt by her grand-daughter [Lysiane Bernhardt], which they found 'great fun'. Used to 'delight in' Henry Sidgwick's life; Sidgwick was 'very kind' to him when he was an undergraduate. Must get Joan Allen to drive him over to see Flora soon. Will send a translation of a Homeric hymn as a Christmas card to her in a few days. Bessie is well, and sends her love. Saw Bertie [Russell] last week; he was 'very cheerful and full of talk, but looking rather older'.

Glad to get Julian's telegraph [from Egypt] yesterday. One word could not be made out: in the description of his pastimes as 'painting, goffinping, and dancing', should the second word be golfing, 'driving your ball over the back of the Sphinx, or getting it bunkered between its paws?'. Expects the weather is hotter than here: today is the first day of spring weather, but 'everything is backward', with no sign of bluebells and cuckoos and 'the very primroses smaller than usual'. Has just had his new book published, and sent it to Ursula; Julian knows almost all of the contents; has become 'un vrai prosateur', as 'Flaubert used to call himself', writing 'nothing but Essays': has just finished one 'on (or rather against) books'. His Simple Pleasures was recently broadcast on the [BBC] Forces Programme; it was 'really rather awful, as they tried to poetize [sic] it, though [he] had meant it to be flatter-than-pancake prose', but he got his five guineas. Tom and Marie [Sturge Moore] are here - Marie unwell in bed but recovering - Tet Htoot is also here for a few days, as 'he too was unwell and wanted cheering up'. Bessie seems quite well, though will go to London on Tuesday to see [Dr Karl] Bluth. Supposes he should write Julian a 'Horatian verse Epistle', but cannot compose it in time for this post; if he does write one will have to send it to Julian on his return; it will 'of course be largely about Egypt, Cleopatra, Amenophis [Amenhotep] and Ramesis, but not Tutenkamen [Tutankhamun]' whom he does not approve of, though 'his predecessor Aknaton [Akhenaten] was an interesting failure'. Hopes Julian will ensure that the 'Memnon statue is camouflaged very carefully'. Seems a pity that now the Nile has only two mouths, lists the names of the seven which 'every school-boy once knew'. Is reading [Lytton] Strachey's Queen Victoria aloud, which is 'really very amusing'; amazing how much easier it is to read a well-written book aloud than a badly-written one. Tet Htoot is reading the first volume of Gibbon, while he himself reads the second; is just coming to the chapter on the Christians, where he knows 'one will have some fun, especially in the notes'. Went with John Luce, with 'a party of Waleys, Joan and Polly [Allen] etc' to quite a good production of the Magic Flute at Sadler's Wells, for which they 'tried, not very successfully, to make the scenery Egyptian'. John is being sent abroad next week, but does not know where; they hope his father [Gordon] is coming home. Mossot [sic: Julian's cat Maszat] has had just one kitten, 'a sad falling off'; is told all cats in Egypt are mummified as divine.

King's College, Cambridge. - 10 Pelham Place, S.W.7. - Arrangements for visiting Trevelyan at Seatoller with [Stephen] Waley; it will be great fun to see him and the Allens, including Deb. Quotes Austen's Elizabeth Bennet on a proposed visit to the Lakes; an American lady once told him that 'no-one could possibly speak such English'. Asks if he was right to tell a friend suffering from conjunctivitis that Vergil once suffered from it on a journey to Brundisium [in fact Horace, see Satire 1.4].

West Watch, Ferry Drive, Wraysbury, Staines. - Is delighted to have Trevelyan's dialogue [see Trevelyan, "Translations from Horace, Juvenal & Montaigne: with two imaginary conversations" (1940)], which he would like to see 'circulated to all universities and schools'. The rucksack has arrived safely. Stephen [Waley] went off to Oxford 'chuckling at memories of [Trevelyan] reading Gogarty and trying to prevent [his] pyjama trousers from slipping down'. Has had no word from the War Office so is back at PEP [Political and Economic Planning] and busy writing a report, but would like to visit the Trevelyans soon; must also go to Joan [Allen?]. Met Geoffrey and his brother at the Old Vic recently; thought Gielgud magnificent as Lear in a fine production.

1490260 Cadet Luce JM, N troop D Battery, 124 OCTU, Llandrindod Wells. - Thanks Trevelyan for the long letter and news of his parents; hopes his father will go to America. Is in his second month of training and still learning 'infantry stuff': will not begin real anti-aircraft training till next month. Got leave last weekend with two of his friends, met Joan [Allen?] and climbed Snowden; then showed her the camp at Llandrindod before she left for Cardiff. Has received a letter from Dick Bosanquet, who is very sad about the death of his cousin Wendy. Glad to hear of Julian's success; hopes he will enjoy Army life [with the Royal Engineers]. Asks if there is any news of Tet Htoot.

c/o GPO, 216 KAA Bty R.A., Brough, E. Yorks. - Leopardi is wonderful, and Trevelyan's translations some of the best work he has done. Had leave last weekend and spent a night with the Waleys, then stayed with Sandra [his sister] and Theo [Rikh, her fiancé] at Henley. Glad to hear they had visited Trevelyan; asks what he thinks of Theo, who 'was completely enchanted' by Trevelyan. Also rang up Joan [Allen], but she 'was busy with nursery centres and the Lloyds'. Is reading Rex [Warner's] latest novel "The Aerodrome", which is 'very Kafkaesque... a little sordid' but still interesting. Joan's brother David [Gill] is now stationed nearby at Leeds which is good as Yorkshire people are 'amazingly kind' but he misses his southern friends. Hopes Trevelyan is not too depressed by the news from Greece.

216 L.A.A. Bty. R.A., 151 Castle Boulevard, Nottingham. - Looks forward to receiving Trevelyan's new book of poems ["Aftermath"?]. Returns "Adonais", which he enjoyed very much. Has just finished Santayana's "The Last Puritan", which is beautifully written but sometimes insipid, and "The Quest for Corvo" [by A. J. A. Symons], as recommended by Joan [Allen] which he loved. Asks if Trevelyan could lend him an easy novel in Italian.

216 L.A.A. Bty. R.A., The Old Hall, Aylsham, Norfolk. - Thanks Trevelyan for the Christmas present which Tet Htoot has sent on for him. Dick Bosanquet wants him to come to Surrey towards the end of the month, but he does not think he will be able to: they are due to move camp again in a fortnight, and do not know their destination; they have already moved twice since Christmas. Asks after Joan [Allen] and what Polly [Allen] has decided about the WAAFS [Women's Auxiliary Air Force]. Has received a cable from his parents who are well and still in Rangoon; does not imagine his mother will leave. Sends love to Bessie and Miss Simpkins. Is getting 'desperately fed up' with army life.

Postmarked Cortona, Arezzo. - Alex. [Passerin] d'Entrèves writes that he will be back in Oxford in a few days and hopes to see Trevelyan. Morra writes that he is waiting to see Trevelyan and the [Clifford] Allens.

45 Beacon Hill, N.7. - Thanks Bob for a 'lovely Christmas card'; looks forward to them 'eagerly each year'; he and Sandra [his sister] will enjoy reading the poems. Has told Bessie his position: would of course love to spend Christmas with the Trevelyans, but it would be very difficult not to go to [his relations in] Gloucester. Also only has three day's leave, 24-26 December, so can only visit the Shiffolds at a weekend; would therefore be difficult to combine seeing the Trevelyans with a visit to Hurtwood [home of Joan and Polly Allen]. Has had no news since mid-October from his parents; they were then well with 'ample food', though 'the price of other commodities has risen so much that they find themselves hard pressed for money'. They have re-opened the Home [for Waifs and Strays], are living there and 'working hard to put it on its feet again'. Adds a postscript to say he will enclose this letter with Bessie's.

100 Weston Road, Gloucester. - Has a month's leave and would like to visit the Trevelyans at the Shiffolds: will be visiting his uncle near Godalming and asks if he can travel on from there. Also hopes to see Joan and Polly [Allen]. Hears the Waleys [David and Ruth?] are in Paris; hopes to see them before Christmas. Is still an army officer: hopes to be released before next summer though is likely to be posted to Germany after Christmas. Has just found Trevelyan's anthology of Chinese poems ["From The Chinese"] with its partiality for Arthur Waley. His father has a cold, but his mother seems better.

100 Weston Road, Gloucester. - Arrangements for seeing Trevelyan, Joan [Allen], and his sister Sandra.

Tallboys, Abinger Hammer. - Very glad to have Trevy's poems ["Aftermath"], and has read them with great pleasure; his appreciation and depiction of the 'quiet, intimate & tender beauty of English country' is very appealing, and she brackets him with Wordsworth in this respect. Also admires the way he writes about sleep and dreams, and his 'unquenchable youthfulness of... spirit'. Comments on various poems. [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson [to whom a poem is addressed], 'must have been a great man'; wishes she had known him. The poem to B.B. [Bernard Berenson] is also lovely; does want Berenson to see it. Simon [her husband] is also looking forward to reading them. Invites him to visit with Bessie as soon as is possible, and if he can to get Lady Allen to bring them. This 'roaring lion of an East wind' is hard on the buds and blossoms; 'only the dandelions like it'.

100 Weston Road, Gloucester. - Thanks Trevelyan for this year's poems from the Shiffolds, without which Christmas would be incomplete. Asks what he thinks of Eddie Marsh's translations of Horace [published 1941]; Luce considers they catch the spirit of Horace, if not the form, very well. Has not been to see Joan [Allen] again due to problems with leave; had a weekend with the Waleys and met Stephen's fiancée [Mary King], whom he thought charming, though the visit was not successful as Stephen and his mother were ill in bed. Luce's father has not heard anything more about passage to Burma. Sandra is here looking well. They all send love to the Trevelyans, and Miss SImpkins.

22 Holding Bt., Moreton Paddox, Leamington. - Thanks Trevelyan for his translation of Sophocles' "Oedipus Coloneus". Still at Leamington: will go to Wrexham next week and expects to be demobbed shortly. His Civil Service exam is in July and he may try to get a temporary post in the Home Civil while awaiting the outcome. Has not yet heard from his parents of their arrival, but thinks they must have reached Rangoon by now. Hears that Joan [Allen] is to scale down her work and Polly [Allen] is writing another novel. Saw Stephen [Waley] on his return from his honeymoon: his wife is charming.

1490260 Gun. Luce, J. M., A Battery B Sub Section, 207 A.A. Trug. Ret. R.A., Devizes, Wiltshire. - Is happy to learn Trevelyan is 'emending Horace'; asks to see the 'iconoclastic epistle' if Joan [Allen?] does not mind. Thanks him for the offer of books. Has seen Desmond [MacCarthy's] article on Roger Fry's biography [by Virginia Woolf]. Agrees that [Dick?] Bosanquet's three most recent poems are most interesting, but none are as original as his first group. Has provided some criticism, at Bosanquet's request, and wishes Trevelyan would criticise his metrical form. Expects Joan has told Trevelyan something of his daily routine, which is fairly monotous, though enlivened by his 'Jesuit and musician friends'. Recently had scores of the Mozart operas sent, and they ran through "Don Giovanni"; next Saturday they will try "The Magic Flute". Sends love to Bessie, Ursula and Julian.

Will be happy to meet Trevelyan's friend Sir Augustus Daniel, and will make sure he is at home whenever he chooses to come. If Trevelyan knows which hotel Daniel is staying at in Siena, will write to him there in case it suits him to stay on his way from Siena to Perugia. The Clarks are spending Easter with Morra, though Kenneth has caught flu in Naples. Will not see Desmond [MacCarthy], which he regrets. Hopes Trevelyan will come down with the [Clifford] Allens in summer or in autumn: better to visit the Isola Maggiore in that season as the landlords are there. Describes the island's vegetation. His [article on George] Moore 'falls flat' because the journal Pègaso is 'breaking down'. Trevelyan should not bother about the Salvatorelli. Is very distressed about the news from Germany. Alberti and Moravia are here and send love; Alberti is 'free of his job'.

Kings Coll Cam. - A 'wretched ending to the business' [involving Clifford Allen]: is sorry for the Allens, and for Bessie and Bob who will miss them; thinks that if the Allens go to London it will kill Clifford. Was at Mrs Waley's last weekend and met Arthur there. Asks if he might visit in September: is not sure what to do after his niece's wedding on the 8th. Hopes this will be a success. Asks her to tell Bob he is trying to rework the dialogue.

West Watch, Ferry Drive, Wraysbury, Staines. - The "Poems and Plays" arrived yesterday, they will be a "κτῆμα ἐς ἀεί" [Thucydides: 'a possession for all time']. Will not make a decision about the Lakes until he hears about the Allens [Joan and Polly]: hopes they will be able to come. He and [Stephen] Waley would probably have to go on the 30th March. Has written to Mrs Honey. Has sent off "The Ivory Tower" which he very much enjoyed. Tet Htoot says he has learnt a lot from Trevelyan about English prosody and would like to know more: Luce has encouraged him to write.

61, Ripon Street, Calcutta. - Apologise for not writing sooner: has taken him a long time to settle down, but his books are still packed up as he cannot afford shelves. Has brought back Trevelyan's copy of [Arthur] Waley's book by mistake; will return it soon. Dull in Calcutta, but [Apurba?] Chanda is currently posted here so he has a friend; as he is a widower he does not go like the others do to the zenana [women's quarters] at dusk. Longs for Europe; went to a cinema to watch a film showing Paris, which made him very unhappy. It is very warm, though others find it cold; Bessie must have suffered during the cold, though he knows Trevelyan is 'impervious' to it. Has eight M.A. students, to whom he teaches History of Classical Art and its relations to Indian and Central Asian Art. The only break in his routine has been the visit of the M.C.C.: did not know which side to back. India 'very slow politically'. His friends [Germanova and Kalitinsky] write him distressing letters: they are very worried that they cannot pay Trevelyan off. They have been trying to sell the flat to return the money, but have not succeeded; they must have written to suggest Trevelyan taking it over. He should do what he thinks best; they are very worried that his money is 'tied up & so badly invested' in the depression. Has done no literary work, and is getting to be a 'narrow specialist'. Asks to be remembered to the [Clifford] Allens.

West Watch, Ferry Drive, Wraysbury, Staines. - Thanks Trevelyan for the weekend and the advice. Will be called up in August at the earliest, so has found some agricultural work since P.E.P. [Political and Economic Planning] will probably disband when air raids begin. This means he will be unable to come up to London on Thursday. Perhaps he will be able to see Trevelyan on Sundays, which will also be the only time he can see Joan [Allen].

100 Weston Rd, Gloucester. - Thanks for the trouble Trevelyan and [Thomas] Sturge Moore have taken in criticising [Ronald] Chapman's poems. Hopes to see Trevelyan at the Ivy on Saturday. Expecting Joan and Polly [Allen] to spend the weekend at Wraysbury. Encloses a letter for Sturge Moore.

Cats Corner, Godalming. - Encloses Ronald Chapman's poems; he is about twenty two, went to Eton and New College, and they met in Paris where they spent three months with the same family between school and university. Joan [Allen] liked him very much. It was very good to see Trevelyan and Bessie on Sunday. Joan gave him a wonderful welcome. He has written a country diary on the Lakes.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Will think about what she asks, as no-one is in his mind at the moment; the sum she suggests is very moderate. Thanks Bob for his letter: was about to write about the C.A.s [Clifford Allens] and is glad to be able to help. Has sent £10 to [Charles Roden] Buxton and will send more if the Allens go to Egypt; suspects that they will not have time with only six weeks and a visit to Aulla [to the Waterfields?], though he wishes they could. Reference to the manhunt, and to Bob Trevelyan's consumption of claret and orange brandy. Has visited [Sebastian] Sprott in Nottingham; saw little of the town but did go to a gallery and saw 'an excessively beautiful picture by an 18th century Frenchman - name Liotard, I think'.

West Watch, Ferry Drive, Wraysbury, Staines. - Would love to see Trevelyan's new dialogue, and suggests visiting for a weekend at the beginning of June: will write to Bessie to confirm. Has just spent a lovely night at Hartwood; its inhabitants are 'quite adorable', to use one of Joan [Allen's] words.