Showing 14 results

End House, Chiltern Road, Chesham Bois. - The Goodens were very pleased to have Trevelyan's 'book of translations' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"?]; thinks it an 'admirable idea for a Christmas card'. Enjoyed reading "Moretum" and found it 'full of life'; the part about Sisyphus getting his garlicky breakfast was 'very entertaining'. The translation of "Ave atque vale" [Catullus 101] is also 'beautiful'; likes the Petronius. Lovely having Lucy and Sam [Luce-Clausen?] over; they were very brave to 'face such abominable travelling conditions'. Sends best wishes for 1947.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Arrived late after a 'rather uncomfortable journey', and found the car waiting for him with 'Norah Richmond and a Miss Grant in it', who remembers meeting Bessie at Wallington; Norah is a 'handsome very independent young lady, who paints'. Is staying in the West room, he thinks for the first time. Molly 'seems cheerful' and is pleased with 'Mary's successor and with the man about the house'. The District Nurse will look after his leg. Many children here: he thinks Elizabeth, Janet and Katriona, and Marjorie's whole family will come soon as well as Patricia's two. George wants him to come [to Hallington] for a couple of nights so will probably stay on 24 and 25 August before travelling back to London on the 26th. [Claude] Colleer Abbott has written asking Bob to visit him, but he must refuse; expects he can see him soon in London. Is not too tired by the journey. Hopes Bessie had a good day in London, and had 'nice talks with Ethel and Sam [Clausen]'.

Hotel Desmeules, Tadoussace, P.Q, Canada. - She, Sam, and Dr MacLean are taking a holiday, near where Rupert Brooke tried to swim the Saguenay river. Looks forward to receiving Trevelyan's "Windfalls", and stresses how much his poetry meant during the war. Was worried not to have heard from Bessie, since they are such good correspondents; conversely, only worries about Gordon when she sees his handwriting. Sure that someone from Dublin will 'prove adaptable' and solve the Trevelyan's domestic problems. Asks if John has mentioned that her nephew, John Victor, has been elected Fellow of Trinity College Dublin; it is a good thing for her brother, who lost his wife and daughter during the war, to have him near. Hopes Trevelyan will have a good time in Italy. Salvemini wrote that he found it 'exhilarating' to be back there and had faith the peasants would solve their political problems. Have been reading reports of the Olympic Games in London. Sorry to hear that Julian has been ill; medical profession in England rather in turmoil over the new laws [the establishment of the National Health Service]; shocked by Sandra's account of her confinement, and glad she and the baby are doing well now. She and Sam are coming to England next year and look forward to seeing the Trevelyans then.

Railroad Mills Road, R. D. 1, Pittsford, New York. - Thanks Trevelyan for his lovely Christmas cards: has sent Salvemini his, and quotes from his reply, deleting something about Churchill. Salvemini has not been well, but now seems to be recovered; she wrote to him yesterday quoting Shakespeare about the mortality of kings, to cheer him after what he had said of the 'great man mentality'. Has a lovely edition of Shakespeare, by Bruce Rogers, and has been reading the plays lately. It is worse winter in living memory; she and Sam were snowed in for six days, and they have been feeding the birds. Liked Richard Church's review of "Windfalls". Asks for news of Gordon.

Railroad Mills Road, R. D. 1, Pittsford, New York. - Trevelyan's "Windfalls" has warmed her on the first day of snow; read Sam what it said about the pleasures of destruction and fire, while he was burning refuse; especially likes the essay on "Courage". A relief from 'the humbug of election speeches'. Asks if Bessie got her letter about Salvemini, who always sends affectionate greetings to the Trevelyans.

The University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, New York, Biological Laboratories. - Hopes that Trevelyan won't mind that she discussed his poem "The Dream", with Arthur Waley's 'Chinese allegory', in a talk she had to give on "Personal Philosophies in a World at War". Two Professors for the English Department have borrowed the poem. Looks forward very much to receiving Trevelyan's "Translations from Leopardi" and will send Salvemini his copy. Mona Gooden writes how much she enjoyed it, and she herself is 'like one of Pavlov's dogs'. Discusses the Waleys: has never met Stephen, though heard a lot about him from Gordon; met Ruth and Sigi once, but now knows them well through correspondence; she and Sam are very fond of Oliver, at the University of Rochester, who cheers Luce up when she is anxious about Gordon. On 21 Feb Luce is thrilled that the copies of "Leopardi" have arrived. If Forster's lecture on Virginia [Woolf] is published she would very much like to see it. Thoughts on the war.

The University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, New York, Biological Laboratories. - Was very touched by Trevelyan's letter and poem, and sent both on to Salvemini who deemed the poem 'worthy of Horace'. She and Sam send their warmest thanks. Has been in correspondence with Salvemini since sending him a note on impulse last Christmas; he has just asked if he can give a lecture at Rochester on 'peace aims' and she thinks the President should 'jump at the chance'. John wrote her a letter while staying with Joan Allen; he seemed cheerful, but rather bored. Very interested to hear about Julian, but Trevelyan's best news is that he is still writing poetry: this has inspired her to get on with her scientific paper. Gordon has written twice to ask if he can come next spring, but he may not have received her replies and much might interfere. He definitely said that he was retiring. She and Sam will befriend Quentin Keynes.

152 Robert'shaus, Yonkers, N.Y. - Sent Trevelyan a message in her last letter to Bessie to explain her delay in thanking him for "Thamyris": has spent the summer on research and fears when she returns home she will only be able to talk about the therapeutic action of sunlight. "Thamyris" interested her very much": she enjoyed the chapter on technique, which reminded her of an afternoon spent with Trevelyan at the Shiffolds; has always liked to analyse rhythm in poetry. Is lucky to be working with probably 'the only scientist in this country' who cares about poetry [Samuel Clausen?], and has lent him the book. Hopes that Trevelyan's suggestion that the rise of science inevitably means the death of poetry is not true, even if Darwin says his science spoiled his appreciation of poetry: 'common ground between poets and scientists' is needed. Apologises for only half answering Bessie's last letter; hopes she will send her manuscript if she has not made other plans. Gordon hopes to come home next spring with his wife and children.

Postmarked Gloucester. - Will reserve a ticket for Trevelyan for the operas and concerts mentioned in the previous letter [4/163]; perhaps they can all leave Salzburg and go on to Italy together, the Luces to Venice and Trevelyan to Vallombrosa. The offer to escort John and Sandra is kind; will write to Arthur Waley and ask him to book rooms for them at the Gablerbräu. Sends love to Bessie and hopes all goes well with her eyes.

Hotel Gablerbräu, 9 Linzer Gasse, Salzburg, Austria. - Has arrived in Salzburg after a pleasant week 'gallivanting' through Germany, and booked a room at the Gablerbräu at Trevelyan. Salzburg reminds Luce of Mozart in its 'intricate yet resolved and overmastering beauty'. Guidance on the train journey through Germany, on which Trevelyan is taking Luce's children; the important part is the declaration of money taken out of Germany. Sends love to Bessie: hopes her eye is mending. Afraid she must not try and see Ethel and Sam at Southampton on their return, it is too difficult: it would almost be easier for her to come to Salzburg.

100 Weston Rd, Gloucester. - Asks when Trevelyan will be able to join them in Salzburg [for Toscanini's Salzburg Festival of music] his party will be Ethel and Sam [his sister and her husband], John and Sandra [his children]. Has booked tickets for "Don Giovanni", "Falstaff", "Cosi Fan Tutti", "Fidelio". "Iphigenia in Tauris", "Fidelio" and several concerts. Arthur Waley has taken rooms at the Gablerbräu. Bessie has given the impression that Trevelyan might prefer to come with John and Sandra at the end of July; it will be a great joy whenever he decides.

100 Weston Rd, Gloucester. - It is good of Bessie to write, given her eye difficulties; will write to her at the nursing home and come to see her if he is in London. Ethel is not coming to England: he is to join her and Sam's boat at Southampton, go to Bremen, then cross Germany to Salzburg [for the Salzburg Festival of music]. Arthur Waley has engaged rooms at the Gablerbräu. Discusses tickets, for the Toscanini concert and others. Extracts from Arthur's letter to Luce originally enclosed, to tempt Bob to join the party: Luce gives several ways in which this could be brought about. John and Sandra would love to see him. Luce also asks if Bob might join them on the Hellenic cruise. Cannot make the Cambridge dinner if it is on June 18th, as he and Frank are taking John on a walking tour on his half-term holiday. Must try to be in Cambridge on the 29th for the Emmanuel dinner. Is wavering about Glyndebourne because of the expense.

King's College Cambridge. - Apologises for not returning Trevelyan's Apuleius: will send it tomorrow. Has been allowed to stay in Cambridge for a while and is doing some research into Byzantium. Had an interview last week with the recruiting board and has been recommended for a commission in the Artillery (anti-aircraft), though conscription will probably not come until February. Still hopes the war 'will peter out' before then, though he supposes that is impossible. His father is thinking of joining Ethel in America next year, but Luce expects his mother will stay on in Burma. Sandra has been trying to get a teaching job in Iran, but that seems to have fallen through; she is still at Henley. Ethel and Sam often talked about Trevelyan, and were planning a reunion in Scandinavia .next summer. It was almost decided at a meeting of the [Apostles'] Society last night to wind it up for the duration of the war, since most of the active members have gone: Andreas Mayor went yesterday, leaving only Champernowne, Mat Hodgart and Luce. They have just decided to 'give birth' to Eric Hobsbawm and Walter Wallich

45 Temple Fortune Hill, N.W.11. - Thanks Bob for his "Translations [from Latin Poetry]": a 'most attractive little book', with 'the print a joy'. Happy to see the 'lovely translation' of Catullus's "Epithalamium", he thinks for the first time; also loves Bob's translation of 'the old favourite "Vivamus, mea Lesbia..."' [Catullus 5], and quotes a line from a previous version of it which always makes him smile. Had not studied Leopardi before but likes Bob's versions, and also the Italian folk songs. José [his wife] asks him to thank Bob too. The 'great event' this week has been the arrival of Ethel [his aunt] and Sam: they have talked on the telephone, and hope to meet on the August bank holiday weekend; until then the Clausens are visiting his aunts at Gloucester and uncle in Dublin. Jane [his daughter] is doing well; thinks she is 'a forward child'. Asks when Bob and Bessie can come to visit; he hopes soon; they cannot come to the Shiffolds because of Jane.