West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.- Would like to come for lunch. His aunt 'despises' Trevelyan for using Holmbury St. Mary [on his notepaper?] as this name 'was invented by the parson'. Is addressing the letter to Felday.
King's Coll. Cambridge [headed notepaper]. - Good to hear from her, and to get good news, 'which is an unusual luxury in these days'. Met Julian in a train - 'we are rather clever at meeting in public conveyances - who told him about Bessie's 'improved domesticities'. Is also very glad about the car. Would like to visit later in the month, either to stay the night or for lunch.
'Chhatarpur's letter and card are charming [from the Maharaja to Bob, sent for him to see?]'; had meant to enclose them, but 'they are not lost but gone behind - i.e. left at Cambridge'. Will post them as soon as he returns. Like Bob, has been 'tearing up letters, and would they were only to myself!'. Has to 'go through what ladies wrote to ladies about ladies in the sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties in the last century. Really extraordinary! Miss Marianne Thornton leads', then there is his aunt Laura, and later his mother; they are mainly discussing their cousin Mrs Aylward, of whose second marriage they disapproved, and from whom there are also letters. As a 'cross current' there are all the letters written by his grandmother to his mother. The twelve boxes with which he was 'confronted at West Hackhurst have now been reduced to three'.
Has just been to Aldeburgh, 'partly to tear up letters, partly to tend' his friend E. K. Bennett, recovering from 'duodenal trouble... What an exasperating disease, and how prevalent! If it is indeed a nervous illness it may be due to the worries of the age'. Is very well himself, and 'even bathed!'. Sends love to her and Bob.
Is sorry not to have been able to visit Trevelyan; asks if Trevelyan might be able to come to visit him; they should meet in January when Forster visits his aunt. Did not enjoy [Norman Douglas's] "South Wind" as much on re-reading, but thinks "They Went" is good.
Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Has heard all about the Hunt from young George, who has been here for several meals recently with his father [Charles]; if Robert had not told them his hand was getting better they would have been anxious about it. Looking forward to Forster's novel; has been 'much in communication with him' recently, and he has sent some interesting reminiscences by his aunt Laura ; realises Forster cannot be the son of his friend Henry [Thornton] Forster, but of a much younger brother, Edward; there are two 'very characteristic stories' in Laura Forster's memoirs of Sir George's mother at fourteen or fifteen, and himself at seven. Very interested to read the descriptions in the "Times" about 'the undertakings of the Balliol Dramatic Society' [notices of the Balliol Players' tour of Robert's "Oresteia" translation: Jun 12, 1924; pg. 10; Issue 43676 and Jun 14, 1924; pg. 8; Issue 43678] and would like to hear more about it; has Robert's "Oresteia" from 1922, but not an 'acting copy' here if it has been published.
Cercle Mohammed Aly. - Asks Trevelyan always to write beforehand saying which books he is going to send, as the anticipation gives much pleasure: he and [George] Antonius have discussed the matter extensively. Unfortunately he is prejudiced against 'the poetry, prose, personality and papa of Edward Thomas', and his aunt has already sent him "Years of Childhood" which he will return for the Trevelyans. Praises 'Askanov' [sic: Sergei Aksakov]: the Stracheys 'never grow up' [cf letter from Trevelyan to Forster, 22 Dec 1917, King's College Cambridge]. Is reading James' "Piddle Years" ["The Middle Years"; discusses James's flatness. Is Glad Trevelyan liked his poem [satire on the Duchess of Connaught]. Is doing some journalism, and reading Racine and Claudel. When he goes for a weekend with Furness at Cairo, is sure Furness will read Edward Thomas to him 'for everyone except me likes him'. Asks for a copy of Trevelyan's Lucretius ["Lucretius on Death"]. In a post-script dated 11 Feb, Forster thanks Trevelyan for the Lucretius and suggests "The Principles of Social Reconstruction" [Bertrand Russell] as another book he would like.
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Asks if the Trevelyans can come to lunch at his aunt's; his mother is there too.
Harnham, Weybridge. Card printed with Christmas and New Year wishes from Forster and his mother, on facing page, handwritten note from Forster thanking Trevelyan for his card and saying that he will come [to his aunt's] on the 31st; they are going to Miss Cracroft's concert on the 6th [see also 2/12?]
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Asks if her can come to stay from Wednesday to Friday, which means he will see [Donald] Tovey. Will visit his aunt on the way; asks if his visit can be kept quiet as surprise visits tire her less. Good news about Fry [that he is willing to design endpapers for "The Celestial Omnibus and other stories", see 3/22] but will do nothing until he hears from Sidgwick and Jackson again.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Forster's plans are disturbed as his aunt has not been well enough to have him and his mother to stay. Would like to come and see Trevelyan. Has just been to stay with E. H. Young near Marlborough and then walked to the White Horse, Wantage, and Goring along the Icknield Way. Sidgwick and Jackson are interested in publishing his short stories; they suggest illustrations, which he does not want; he would though be happy with illustrated end-papers and asks if Fry likes his stories enough to design these. Sidgwick and Jackson's letters originally enclosed: 'Hellfellows' is 'an awful work of Housman's' ["All-fellows: Seven Legends of Lower Redemption," by Laurence Housman] which the publishers wanted Forster's work to resemble. 'Marguerite was well rid of Mat' [Matthew Arnold]. Does not think Stokoe's idea to take a BA degree and teach a good one.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Hopes to see Trevelyan while at his aunt's, between the 12th-26th. Notes that there were no Trevelyans at the [Apostles'] dinner this year, which he enjoyed, although except for Yates Thompson's the speeches were bad. Needs to return Trevelyan's copy of Heredia, which he liked, and would like to borrow more books: has promised to write a paper about 'Mat Arnold', which is likely to be more sympathetic than might be expected. Asks if there is a life or 'anything the least indiscreet' published about him. His mother has been to Harrogate for a month for her health, and he was with her half the time.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Morgan hopes to be back early next month. He has been busy meeting prisoners from Turkey, including Sir Joseph Napier, a great-nephew of Miss [Laura] Forster, whose father Sir Lennox was killed at Gallipoli. Sir Joseph was well treated: he told Morgan that the officers were much better treated than the men since the Turks were 'such savages & such fools they did not think men mattered' - including their own men. Went to see Miss Forster in September: afraid she is aged a great deal by anxiety. Is glad that Joe Napier is now with her, and hopes she will soon see Morgan. Glad Trevelyan is liking his work; hopes Mrs Trevelyan and their son are well.
19 Manchester Street, W. - Thanks the Trevelyans for their letters. Has disappointing news: his tests are bad and MacD. [Sydney Macdonald] does not want to operate for at least a month; he will therefore return to West Hackhurst soon, and will need some supervision from a local doctor. If just for this month, he thinks 'fat Davidson from Shere' will do, but would be glad to hear of anyone in Dorking who may be better: asks who attended Bob. McComas, whom his aunt Laura saw, charged a guinea a visit. His mother will probably visit, and Bob Buckingham drive him down. Is writing to most people in pencil to let them know how ill he is.
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Thanks for the praise of the book ["A Passage To India"]; is happier than he was about the novel. Wonders if it might be a 'topical success': has sent a copy to Justice [Henry] McCardie [the judge of the O'Dwyer case] but doesn't expect a response. The picture of the 'Anglo-Indian' in the novel is not at all exaggerated: she should ask her husband or Goldie [Dickinson]. Asks her to read the correspondence he encloses out to Bob, a letter from Mrs Evans [George Eliot?] and two copy letters from his grandfather [presumably found while sorting his aunt's papers].
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Thanks her for her letter on the death of his aunt; will not be able to see them this weekend but perhaps next week. Is very glad she saw more of his aunt recently.
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Would like very much to visit on Saturday, and his aunt and mother look forward to seeing the Trevelyans for tea. 'The fame of Bob's boot' has spread; Forster dreamed last night that he went to see it. His aunt and mother are very curious to see what Trevelyan has brought back [from India and China].
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - His aunt and mother would very much like the Trevelyans to come over to lunch, and to bring Paul; they could go on to the Cracroft [?] concert afterwards if the Trevelyans are going.
Postmarked Weybridge. - Will ask Goldie [Dickinson] to send W.S.B. [Wilfrid Scawen Blunt: see 3/38]. Will be at his aunt's from tomorrow, and should be able to visit Trevelyan.
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Asks if he can come to lunch on Thursday; is staying Wednesday night at L.H.P. [Leith Hill Place]. Has received what he thinks is a first edition of [Sir Thomas Browne's] "Religio Medici" from his aunt as a Christmas present; asks if Trevelyan would like to see it.
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Asks when it would suit the Trevelyans either to come to lunch, which would delight his aunt, or for him to visit them.
Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - 'Armenia is, as ever, premature': is not visiting his aunt until 19 Feb. Will however stay a fortnight, and is much looking forward to visiting Elizabeth and seeing the Sturge Moores. Was in Paris for a day, and wishes he had known where Bob was; he 'seemed to have bought all the books' in any shops Forster looked in. Did not see him at Notre Dame, nor even the Institut de France; was then 'frightened of some little girls who were throwing snowballs' and 'sought him no more'.