Showing 71 results

14 Pelham Crescent, S.W.7. - Logan [Pearsall-Smith] has just read her Robert's poem in the "New Statesman" ]: thought it a 'noble and beautiful tribute to a friend' [Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson]. Hopes they can meet soon; suggests lunch next time he is at St Leonard's Terrace.

Monk's House, Rodmell, Lewes. - Returns Percy Lubbock ["Earlham", see 17/88] with thanks. Cannot make out why 'in spite of every appearance to the contrary' and Logan [Pearsall Smith?]'s recommendation, she thinks it 'a thoroughly bad book'. Percy is 'obviously intelligent, scrupulous [a long list of his virtues follows]' and his style is 'by no means despicable [another list of virtues follows]'. Suspects there is 'something hopelessly prosaic, timid, tepid, in his goal. The spirit of Earlham is undoubtedly the family butler'; detects a 'conspiracy to misrepresent the human soul in the interests of respectability and... of the defunct Henry James' and wonders why Percy, 'who is comparatively young' has ended it; it makes her 'long for glaring suburbs, brass bands - Brighton Piers'. Acknowledges she exaggerates, but it is strange how good and bad the book is; wonders whether 'Percy himself is corrupt'; has just met him. She and Leonard return to Richmond on Monday, and hopes Bob and Bessie will soon visit; wants to discuss his Aeschylus [translation of the "Oresteia"]; accepts his spelling of 'quire'. Would not 'yield to Logan. If he thinks "Earlham" a masterpiece, he is not to be trusted about the letter K'. Hopes Robert is writing a poem; is 'dipping into "Georgian Poetry [1920-] 1922"' [edited by Eddie Marsh] and getting 'bored to death with apple trees and acorns'. Notes in a postscript that she and 'Bertha Ruck' are now 'great friends' [Berta Ruck was offended by Virginia's near-use of her name on a tombstone in "Jacob's Room"]; 'Tom Gaze [a typing error for Tom Gage, another tombstone name?] turned out to be Lytton [Strachey]-Carrington'.

Asks Bob if he can lend her Percy Lubbock's "Earlham": Logan [Pearsall Smith?] 'says it is a masterpiece, but she cannot get it from Mudie's [Library]. Encloses stamps and will return it in a fortnight; gives her address at Monk's House. Is taking Bob's translations [of Aeschylus's "Oresteia"] with her to read. Thinks he should not use 'quire' for 'choir'; it makes her, as a publisher, think of '24 sheets post 8vo'.

New College, Oxford [on 'The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, S.W.1 headed notepaper]. - Logan Pearsall Smith has just given him a copy of Trevelyan's 'elegiac tribute' to [Goldsworthy] Lowes Dickinson'; greatly admires it. English poetry is 'rich in noble elegiacs', but unless his judgement is 'seriously at fault' Trevelyan's poem will 'rank with the best'.

20 Hinde House, Hinde Street, Manchester Square, W.1. - Very kind of Bob to send her "Windfalls"; hopes he can 'spare it', since Logan [Pearsall Smith] told her 'it can't be got' but that he had let Bob know she would like it. Enjoys the [essay] "Pleasures", and lists some she would add herself, such as 'the croaking of frogs in the hills.. 'the hot smell of hedge & ditch flowers in the sun... bicycling (with one's feet up) down a long hill'. Would also include 'walking abt London in an air-raid with fine sky effects and tremendous noises' under Bob's 'Fearful Pleasures' heading, as '[t]his is exhilarating'. The book is the kind she likes. Hopes Bob has now recovered from 'crossing the road amid traffic... too fearful a pleasure'. Hears of him occasionally from the Lynds. Is reading George's "[English] Social History", and finding it 'absorbing'; wishes he would publish the 'pre-Chaucer part soon'.

Chantry Dene, Guildford. - Possible arrangements for meeting after a trip to Paris [for the Metropolitan Museum of Art]. Goldie [Dickinson] wants to visit: asks if Trevelyan can send him a wire; suggests bringing Logan [Pearsall Smith] over on Tuesday so Fry can show them the new house. Thinks Trevelyan will like it: the neighbourhood regard it as 'the most hideous thing ever produced'. Will try to go to some of the concerts. Has been with Helen at Bourton-on-the-Water and has left her there; Mr Bowhay still has hope, but she 'still despises the whole world... if once that could be overcome she would be almost completely well.'

Shulbrede Priory, Lynchmere, Haslemere. - Thanks Trevelyan for his 'most useful letter', particularly since he is compiling a second volume of English [diaries] as well as the 'Scotch and Irish' [both books were published in 1927; Ponsonby's first volume on "English Diaries" in 1923]. Would be grateful if Trevelyan could lend him Zachary Macaulay's book; has got [George] Crabbe now, as well as Dorothy Wordsworth, his 'only really bad miss'; will look up [William?] Allingham and Thelwall. Think 'slightyness' certainly ought to be 'flightyness'; would have liked to have it corrected for the second edition but is too late; is happy with the other reading for which Trevelyan suggests a correction. Asks Trevelyan to let him know if he thinks of any more diaries; has found many good ones he missed before, and 'some quite amusing MSS are coming in'. They [he and his wife Dolly?] have just been to visit Logan [Pearsall Smith] at Chilling, which is a 'perfectly delightful place'; Logan seemed very well.

The Mill House, Stanford Dingley, Berkshire. - Has been through the Logan [Pearsall Smith] letters very carefully, and taken out all those which mention, even briefly, her husband's writings. The last [6/78?] is the 'fullest & best and most interesting'; he remembers it being written, as Logan was 'rather pleased' with it and read it out to him. Hopes she is enjoying the spring weather; there are hundreds of daffodils in their field.

K[ing's] C[ollege] C[ambridge]. - Thanks Trevelyan for his Christmas greeting: Shepherd admires it greatly too. The [Apostles] Society is going strong: it meets in Forster's room and the papers are excellent, though sometimes overly 'concerned with the Communist interpretation of history'; the brethren are keen on tradition. Has most in common with [P.N.] Furbank of Emmanuel. Is going to give a talk on criticism at a musical conference at Harvard in May. Has been much affected by the loss of West Hackhurst, and finds it painful to visit Abinger Hammer: a few lines are scribbled over, as 'unnecessarily peevish'. Is very touched by the kindness of Patrick Wilkinson and his wife, with whom he lodges. Is on friendly terms with the undergraduates; has done some supervision but no regular teaching. If Trevelyan is visiting Cambridge and wishes to come to an Apostles meeting, Forster can let him know dates; [Eric] Hobsbawm has a job at Birkbeck so will no longer be secretary.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Very sorry to hear of Logan [Pearsall Smith's] death, and sends sympathy. Went to Cambridge on Thursday: King's are being very kind and giving Forster one of [Nathaniel] Wedd's former rooms, which will enable him to house his furniture instead of storing or selling it, and two small rooms in Trumpington Street. Arthur Waley is taking a 'lofty line' over his fellowship and not making a good impression. Originally enclosing a letter which has been his first intimation of who will succeed him at West Hackhurst [Frances Farrer, sister of the owner, Lady Bridges]: would like to know what Trevelyan and Bessie think, and how they would have replied.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Calls Trevelyan's collection [the 1945 "From the Shiffolds"? ] the 'most mellow and golden-hearted' he has yet sent to his friends: he is lucky to be writing ever better verse with age. Has been 'haunted' by "Two Hundred Years Hence', as he was by Binyon's "[The Burning of The] Leaves", which he got the "Atlantic Monthly" to publish, establishing Binyon's reputation in the US; has written to the "Atlantic" about Trevelyan's poem and hopes they will telegraph to ask for permission to print. Hopes 'to immortalise his old age' too by the lines "There is much to be said / For staying in bed", and hopes Trevelyan will 'visit his death bed' when next in London. The back of the envelope has a note by Pearsall Smith recommending two small changes to "Two Hundred Years".

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Thanks for the book with 'its lovely title' ["Windfalls"]: did not know Trevelyan could write 'such charming prose'. Especially enjoyed the autobiographical passages; suggests that Trevelyan write 'a more complete account of [his] adventures among books & people'. Has been re-reading [Alain-René Lesage's] "Gil Blas", inspired by a comment of Santayana in his "Persons and Places". As a 'word-wrangler', has a few points of contention with Trevelyan: gives his own definition of 'rhetoric', complete with references to his own published work; discusses the definition of 'lyrical' at length, and with numerous references. Will support Trevelyan's use of 'kindness' for charity or love, if in return Trevelyan helps introduce 'the fine French word bougresse', as used by Flaubert, into English; would be useful to describe 'Mrs Keppel, Lady Cunard, & such-like ancient females'. Their 'male counterparts' can be called 'bougre', now Cyril [Connolly] has printed the word in "Horizon", or "pagod", as used by Pope. Lady Colefax (not yet a 'bougresse') has told him that Harold Nicolson's son Nigel, a soldier in Italy, has written to say that B.B. [Berenson] is at Pistoia but is expected to be released soon. Asks if it is true that the Beerbohms were bombed out of their house The 'worst massacre in London' [the destruction of the Guinness flats in Chelsea in the 'Little Blitz'?] was 'just round the corner', but only a few windows were broken at St. Leonard's Terrace. Is ordering some copies of "Windfalls" for his friends.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Thanks for the poem: 'there is something of comfort in beauty'.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Thanks for the 'mellow & delightful book' ["Translations from Horace, Juvenal, & Montaigne: With two imaginary conversations"]: admires the dedication to B.B. [Berenson] and enjoyed the conversations, now will 'browse on' the translations; the Muses have no meaning to the younger generation. Had a telegram from I Tatti yesterday, saying they [the Berensons and their household] are all well, but hardly ever gets letters; they can say little in any case. Does not mind the thought of leaving the world they 'have lived on into'.

Poggio allo Spino, Consuma (Prov. di Firenze). - Hasn't been able to see Julian and his wife [Ursula]. Is going back tomorrow after a week at Consuma; Mary [Berenson] came back from Fiuggi today with Logan [Pearsall Smith] in pain, though Elizabeth had written the cure had helped her; her imagination makes her health worse than it is. B.B. [Berenson] is in good health and spirits, taking walks; has put off his plan of going to Austria.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Thanks for the book: good to have Trevelyan's collected plays. Remembers many of them, but 'the curious & subtle Sulla' and some others are new to him. Mary [Berenson] left yesterday, flying to Paris, and will arrive in Florence this afternoon.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Thanks Trevelyan for sending "Rimeless Numbers", which he finds charming; is proud to be one of the recipients of a poetic epistle. Is going to Florence tomorrow; still feels 'pretty seedy' and hopes the change will do him good. Hopes the opera ["The Bride of Dionysus", written with Donald Tovey] is going well; supposes Trevelyan is in Edinburgh for it.

The University of Liverpool. - Thinks he will be able to find a copy of his pamphlet ["Poetry and Contemporary Speech"?] to send to Pearsall Smith; will be honoured to be quoted by him. Further arrangements for Trevelyan's "Oresteia" [see 1/71 and 1/72]. Delighted to hear he has returned to his translation of Theocritus. Agrees that [Gibson's] "Krindlesyke" is a great achievement.

Big Chilling, Warsash, Hampshire. - Much flattered and pleased by Trevelyan's epistle; thinks it even better - in poetical terms, rather than its subject - than the epistle to Desmond [MacCarthy]. The Clarks [Kenneth and Jane] agree with him. Encourages him to write more, suggesting B.B. [Berenson]. Roger [Fry] and Goldie [Dickinson] as 'worthy recipients'. Is enjoying his time as a guest at Chilling: Kenneth is excellent to talk to, and Jane a delightful hostess. Returns to London after paying another visit nearby; hopes Trevelyan will be up at No 11 [St Leonard's Terrace] next week.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W.3. - Thanks Trevelyan for sending the books; already knew many of the poems in "The Death of Man" but likes some of the new things very much; praises the 'largeness' of Trevelyan's way of writing and says it will endure. Also thinks the translation of [Sophocles'] "Ajax" is excellent, as far as he can tell. Has just published some Donne selections, which he has asked to be sent to Trevelyan. Asks if Trevelyan has returned from Paris. Gibbon is the greatest writer of the 18th century.

Friday's Hill, Haslemere. - Thanks Trevelyan for sending the book [his "Mallow and Asphodel"], which is printed very nicely. Thinks that "The Peacock", the first two Archilochus poems and the second "Quern Song" are most successful; likes 'your moth' very much. Asks if Trevelyan is going to be at Roundhurst in the autumn; hopes to spend October and November at High Buildings. Asks how he got on with [Bernard] Berenson in Scotland.

Pension Lucarini, 5 Via Gregoriana, Rome. - Glad Bob enjoyed Arezzo and that Piero [della Francesca] 'played up well'; he and Helen have seen very few pictures since Bob left, having been busy with their own work. This has mainly involved copying; feels he would do nothing else if he lived in Italy, as it 'makes one lose ones nerve in the matter of creation to see what has been done'. They go to the [Palazzo] Colonna, where he is copying a Poussin landscape and Helen a boy's head by Giovanni Santi which [Bernard] Berenson will probably know. D.S.M. [Dugald Sutherland Macoll] must never know Fry has copied a Poussin. His pocket book, containing ten pounds in Italian money, has been stolen.

Bob's letter suggests that he thinks Fry 'expressed strong disapproval of Berenson'; in fact he has 'always rather believed in him and what [Bob says] of him; even the 'Superior Maple' is 'right enough if you make the superiority big enough'; would 'willingly be a whole family of Sir Blundells on those terms' [a reference to Sir John Blundell Maple?]. Hopes he will meet Berenson one day. Cites Michelet and [Arthur Henry] Johnson in support of his own view of Savonarola's statesmanship. Has been reading Pater's "Miscellanies"; a pity he makes so many mistakes, and is also 'so very just', particularly disappointing in a 'Morelli-ite'; describes what is needed in criticism now and wonders if Berenson might write it.

He and Helen have been playing piquet, 'a poor substitute for chess', and 'head, body & legs' when they are 'extra happy & frivolous'. He and Helen were in the Borghese gardens this morning looking for white violets; Helen had just got under the barbed wire onto the road 'with some agile anglo saxon attitudinizing' when she was startled by the appearance of the King in a phaeton; her behaviour was 'absurdly like... [that of] the gardeners when the Red Queen came along' [in Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland"]; would have been different if she had had Bob's 'Republican soul at hand to back her up'; his own sense that 'a King is different to anyone else', though 'of course' he laughed at Helen 'for her superstition'.

Very glad Logan [Pearsall Smith]'s work is so good; supposes discontent is 'the cause of all creativity''; asks Bob to tell Logan that he wants to see him as soon as possible. Asks to be remembered kindly to [Mary] Costelloe, whom they hope to catch when they come to Florence. 'Hellen', as Bob writes it, is asleep, or would send her own good wishes to Bob.

Newnham College, Cambridge. - Her thanks for Trevelyan's 'beautiful verses' ["The Bride of Dionysus"] delayed as she has been away in Switzerland; they have given him 'quite peculiar pleasure because of the Orphism. It somehow... gives one quite a new confidence in the reality of one's theories' to find they 'are the stuff of which poetry can be made'. Enjoyed the poem all through, 'not just the Orphic bits', and also the "Attys" [Trevelyan's translation of Catullus 63]. Wishes he had come on 'that absurd ship the Dunottar [Castle, on which Harrison had taken a cruise along the Greek coast with Logan Pearsall Smith earlier that year]; had heard there was some chance of it.

11, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, S.W. - Asks when Trevelyan will return to his old lodgings; hopes he will pay a visit soon as he has some new books to show him. Has been lending Trevelyan's poems to 'one of the Oxford jeunes féroces wounded in hospital here', who has written back to say he is 'much the best of the modern poets' and has 'gone to proclaim this discovery at Oxford. Asks Trevelyan to bring [Pound's ?] "Catholic Anthology" if he come up; has some of Trevelyan's books to return.

High Buildings, Haslemere. - Mrs Berenson says she has written to tell Trevelyan about the house to let at Fernhurst; urges him and his wife to come and see it, as it might suit them for a year or two until they get Blackdown Cottage; they could stay with him. Ought to have thanked Trevelyan for his play ["The Birth of Parsifal"], which he likes very much; is glad he tried prose and tells him to carry on. Asks him if he has read [Robert] Bridges "Hexameters", and what he thinks. Is swamped in 'pedantry & MS.': wants to prove he can 'be as dull & dry as B.B. [Berenson] or Bertie [Russell]'.

High Buildings, Haslemere. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter about [Pearsall Smith's book] "Trivia"; Trevelyan is the only person of his generation he knows of who is seriously occupied with literature, so is glad he likes it. Quotes some of Trevelyan's poetry. Asks if he is still thinking about finding a house 'among these hills which the Muses love'; if so Shulbred Priory is to let for 100 pounds a year, it is 'a romantic old place'; there is also Moses Hill near Marley Common, says Trevelyan could 'act the part of Moses splendidly and... might see the back view of Jehovah'. Invites Trevelyan and his wife to stay if they would like to look at either house; the Berensons will probably be here for a week or two.

I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Wanted to write before to thank Trevelyan for the book, but has only now, from [Bernard] Berenson, found out that he is at Ravello. Likes "Polyphemus" very much; says Trevelyan has 'amply expiated the sin of the apple'; particularly likes "Dionysus" which he thinks the best thing in modern verse he has seen for some time. Arrived a few days ago in Italy, with an "English rainstorm" which he hopes will travel south to make Trevelyan homesick. The people at I Tatti send regards and hope to see Trevelyan on his way north; Mrs Berenson is keeping Trevelyan's book for him.

Tonino did not send on Trevelyan's letter of late April with the book and Virginia Woolf's card, and he has been away from home in Rome, at I Tatti, and then in Venice. Heard of Trevelyan from Logan [Pearsall Smith] and from B.B. [Berenson] and Nicky [Mariano]. May come to England in September when B.B. is also there, instead of in June; tells Trevelyan to make plans for a summer visit to Cortona.

Il Frullino, San Domenico di Fiesole, Florence:- Is 'established here till the end of the month', when he expects to return to England; is 'looking forward to spending some time at Welcombe' and beginning his 'new plans', as he has done all he means to for his book except revisions. It is 'very pleasant' here; the only other people there are Mrs [Mary] Costelloe, Logan [Pearsall Smith], and 'Mr [Bernard] Berenson the critic, who is a delightful person'.

Is 'writing the libretto of an opera on Theseus and Ariadne [the germ of The Bride of Dionysus?] for Mrs C., who is going to get it set to music by a Hungarian friend of hers, a wealthy musician of some considerable reputation'. Thinks the musician is called 'Moore' [ie Emánuel Moór], and he will 'put it on the stage in London at his own expense and make a great success of it'. Mary Costelloe is 'providing the plot', with Robert only writing the words, as 'a grand opportunity for trying [his] hand at all possible lyric meters'; so far they seem pleased with what he has done, but he has 'only just begun'. Thinks they 'might have made a better plot, but that is none of [his] business'; he has however 'persuaded them to alter it in some particulars'.

Left the Frys [Helen and Roger] 'quite happy in Rome'; they will return to England in about April. This is for him 'a great opportunity of seeing Florence, as Berenson is probably the best critic of Italian pictures since Morelli' and has already 'made a great reputation by his books'. The house is between Florence and Fiesole, 'about a quarter of an hour's bicycle ride from the Duomo'.

Is glad his father is 'well again and able to work'; is sorry Miss Martin has been unwell. Will see Charles before he starts [for America] if he does not leave before the 23rd.

Cortona (Arezzo), Metelliano. - Happy to hear that Trevelyan is returning to Italy soon and will visit on the way to Naples; gives him information about trains. Spent a long time in October with the Berensons. If Trevelyan sees Logan [Pearsall Smith] he should tell him that Morra very much wants to see him again and sends love to the 'hist. friend' [?].