Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Thanks him for his article on The Merchant of Venice. Is sorry that the British Council have disappointed him. Suggests that he might get supervision work in Cambridge. Is excited that [Godfrey] Lienhardt is interested in the Church. Term is nearly over. Urges Smith to finish his article on Twelfth Night. Was interested by C. S. Lewis’s British Academy lecture on Hamlet and enjoyed the revised preface to his Pilgrim’s Regress. Recommends Does God Exist? by A. L. Taylor.
13 Kutchery Road, Karachi (Pakistan) - Read Trevelyan's Homeric Hymn [in that year's "From The Shiffolds"] with great pleasure; praises his diction, not 'Wordsworth's language of the people but the language cultivated people should use'. Has to write an inaugural address for Wordsworth's centenary, organised by the British Council. Agreed to do this, even though he is 'shy of writing', because Wordsworth has never been a favourite of his and he wanted the chance to read up and clarify why to himself. Finds him 'too much of an Englishman'; every experience seems to be 'of equal value' to him, and there are 'long passages of bathos'. However, the "Solitary Reaper" is great, and as Suhrawardy grows older and nostalgic for 'England and her scenery', Wordsworth has become 'close & more acceptable'. Has not read Po-chui's life [translated by Arthur Waley]; the bookshops only have 'political controversial' literature; thanks Trevelyan for offering to send it. His life is 'routinal, dull & lazy' and he is depressed by the situation in India and Pakistan: it is all very different from what was dreamt of. Sends love to Bessie and regards to Mrs [Catherine] Abercrombie.
Visit to American University of Beirut, Lebanon, to give three lectures, March 1961, as part of British Council visit
Correspondence only.
Visit to Dortmund under auspices of British Council, to give lecture as part of the Dortmund English Festival, May 1961.
Correspondence only.
West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking.—Lord Wavell has approved Forster’s visit to India, but the British Council warn that his departure may be postponed as he is only a writer.
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Transcript
West Hackhurst | Abinger Hammer | Dorking
3-9-45
Dear Pethick Lawrence,
I don’t suppose for a moment that there will be an opportunity for me to pay my respects to Wavell while he is in this country. I should of course much like to pay them—especially since he has been so good as to approve of my visit to India.
I hope that you are, both of you, all right, and not feeling too rushed. I shall be calling on you before I go. I pray that I do go—though the British Council warns me that there may be a last minute postponement, since I am only a writer. I am starting inoculations this week.
Yours v. sincerely
E M Forster
[Added by Pethick-Lawrence in pencil:] I think I h[ave] seen him since & I understand air passages h[ave] b[ee]n arranged.
Correspondence with British Council 1960-61 re proposed visit to Iran and Pakistan to lecture and visit laboratories, scheduled for March 1961 but cancelled by Frisch. The visit to Beirut was intended as part of this trip.
Visit to Basle under British Council University Interchange Scheme, to lecture on new particles, and on work at the Cavendish Laboratory, June 1962.
Boarbank Hall, Grange-over-Sands.—Apologises for not replying earlier. Urges him not to worry about the way in which he (Smith) wrote, or about his spiritual state. ‘Fribourg has greatly disappointed me. I think we can thank the British Council for jamming up the works.’ Discusses Harding’s idea of Eliot’s ‘new concepts’, and responds to Smith’s remarks on the Chester miracle plays. Will try again to ‘produce something’. They have had a flood of visitors since Easter, and he has been helping two French girls (nieces of the Mother General, who has been staying there) with their English. Reflects on the qualities of Newman’s Apologia. Urges Smith to produce ‘something really first-rate on the paths on English though[t] from its philosophers thro’ its more purely “literary” writers’.
Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath.—Responds to his inquiries about the academic dress he (Steuert) needs for graduation. Hopes that Smith’s interview with the [British] Council goes well and that he will be able to get congenial work in England. Moreno is now a lecturer at King’s College, London. Has much to discuss with him. ‘I’m afraid in many ways I’m no longer a thorough-going Leavisite.’