Showing 424 results

11 Drayton Court, Drayton Gardens, S. W. - Is glad Trevelyan likes the story ["The Eternal Moment"] better than he expected; he agrees about the end and will work on it; is satisfied with the beginning although Trevelyan is right that the conversation suggests 'a rather unbecoming sauciness'. Wished Trevelyan had told him where 'the facetiae' are, as these are a definite fault. Asks if Ch[apter] II is a 'hash'. Does not think that he ought to come to Seatoller, as another house is 'ripening', and apologises. His mother sends her remembrance to Trevelyan and his wife. His Ravello story "The Story of a Panic" will appear next month: he 'likes it more than [he] ought'.

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'.

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Has heard from Miss V. W. [Vaughan Williams] about Trevelyan's accident at the Pageant: hopes he has recovered. Asks where Paul's 'playground' was purchased, as he would like to buy one for [Hugh Owen] Meredith's children. Returns two books, and his 'silly Dante paper'. 'Miss Bartlett' ["A Room with a View" has been rejected by the USA. Visits Meredith next week, then Mrs Hope Wedgwood; goes to Abinger next and on the 5th September may join [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson in Italy. Wishes that Trevelyan could come too. Is reading Marco Polo, inspired by Masefield's introduction.

On headed notepaper for West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking, 'as from' Heytesbury House, Wiltshire [home of Siegfried Sassoon]. - Was about to ring her on 'a matter of slight public importance, when a private disaster overwhelmed' him: Agnes has given notice, as she 'doesn't like the cooking'. His mother has 'borne it better' than he has so far: he does not see how they can stay on at West Hackhurst. Will talk it over when he returns from the long weekend with Sassoon already arranged. If Bessie is 'driving alone' near his mother, knows she would like to see her. Must post this letter (in Dorking) and board the train.

Tells her to look at the Times, he thinks from last Saturday, announcing that the Dorking town councillors 'propose to cut a chalk cock on Box Hill in honour of the Coronation!'. Wonders if she could contact 'eg some V[aughan] Williamses, find out whether it is true, and join in a protest if it is'.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Will visit tomorrow, unless the weather is dreadful as he has holes in his boots.

26 B[runswick] Sq[uare]. - His mother 'seems fit for social intercourse' should she call again. Returns tomorrow, and will be at home over Easter. Fears there is 'no progress to report'.

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.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - 'How nice it will be to see [Gordon] Luce again; hopes to come over on Monday afternoon by the bus leaving Abinger Hammer at 3 pm and return by the 5.30 pm bus. The 'word "hope" recurs' as the buses may be full because of the bank holiday weekend. Will ring if he cannot get to the Shiffolds, 'and if I can't get away from you - I don't know!'.

Is just going to see Macbeth 'for the purpose of broadcasting on it to India'. Does not 'usually like Gielgud'.

Postmarked Stone. - A letter seems to have gone missing: Forster will soon be at West Hackhurst and will make it up to Trevelyan. Has been stopping with [Hugh] Meredith, whose house in Cambridge will probably be too small for a 'playground' [see 3/10]. May go to meet [Goldie] Dickinson in Italy. Hopes Paul is well again.

Postmarked Salisbury. - Thanks about Jane (brief diversion to quote rhyme with which Forster's father teased his nurse, and her response): knows the L.L. book and Grey, but is grateful for the other. Asks if Trevelyan if he knows a 'young or cheerful Italian man' who could give him lessons. Thanks for the news, which he had not heard [no further details].

Contains: poems, "There Must Be Time For Grief" and "Spider", by Ursula Wood; "Mon Camarade est Anglais" by E. M. Forster; poem, "Homo Sum", by Anthony Wilson; "The Wallington Ponds" by R. C. Trevelyan; poem, "To a Friend", by Logan Pearsall Smith.

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.

Originally enclosing three publicity notices for the "Abinger Chronicle" for Julian and Ursula to distribute to possible subscribers, such as Imogen [Gore-Browne?]; they should avoid people likely to be on Oliver [Lodge], Bob, [E.M.] Forster or Sylvia [Sprigge]'s lists. Max [Beerbohm] and Forster are both contributing to the Christmas number; does not think he himself will have anything ready. Bessie has a persistent cold, but he hopes she will soon get away to Hove for a few days. Hopes that Diana [Brinton-Lee?]'s 'expedition' was successful. Is trying to write an 'epistle in Alexandrines' to B.B. [Bernard Berenson], but it is 'rather uphill work'; quotes Pope ["Essay on Criticism"]. Tom S[turge] M[oore] is 'fairly all right', though Marie is still in Paris.

Postmarked Harlech. - Is taking his mother to Italy and asks if Trevelyan knows about pensions at Pallanza and Siena, or any 'mid-Appenine resort'. Is staying at Harlech till Wednesday. Asks if he can borrow the 'Golden Crock (Italian Picture Number)' before he goes [perhaps a reference to James's "The Golden Bowl"?]

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge; forwarded on to Trevelyan c/o Mr H. Thompson, 19 Portman Sq[uare], London. - Bierstock is in the L.L. [London Library]. "War and Peace" 'runs into six [volumes?]'. Is coming to W[est] H[ackhurst] and would like to see Trevelyan. Is reading Jalal al din Rumi and likes him; asks if there is any one similar; Firdausi [Abu ʾl-Qasim Ferdowsi Tusi] is 'impossible'.

Contains: "Ave Atque Vale" by S. S. [Sylvia Sprigge]; "Abinger Notes" by E. M. Forster; poems, "The Giraffe" and "Memory", by N. Gumilev, translated from the Russian by Jacob Hornstein; poem, "Battle Landscape", by Ida Procter; "Leaves from a London Diary" by S. S.; "My Victorian Days" by Sarah Shorey Gill; poem, "Ten Years Ago", by R. C. Trevelyan; poem, "Hymn of Thanksgiving for Old Age", by O[live] Heseltine; "The Painter, the Slave Woman and the Rose", by C. Kerr Lawson; "Patrolling in the Apennines", by Richard Bosanquet [mistakenly called R. D. rather than R. G. Bosanquet on the inside cover], with a note by S. S. that Bosanquet was killed in action this summer; "Pear Tree Cottage" by V. S. Wainwright; poem, "The Poet Otherwise Occupied" by Kenneth Hopkins"; poem, "Penelope in April", by Geoffrey Eley.

Hotel Cecil, Agra - This is their second day here; will go on to Gwalior on Monday. Had a 'very interesting 5 days at Delhi', and spent a night at Muttra [Mathura], which was the most 'purely Indian' town they have yet seen, on the way; it is 'full of monkeys, and Brahmins bathing in the river, and 'no sign of English anywhere' though there are several regiments stationed nearby. The river and ghats are 'very beautiful'; though they saw 'no fine temples' there, there was a famous old Hindu temple, sacred to Krishna, at nearby Brindaban [Vrindavan], which was the finest he has yet seen. They are having a very pleasant time here; they saw the Taj [Mahal] in the moonlight yesterday, which was more beautiful than he could imagine. Today they saw the buildings in the fort; the Pearl mosque is a 'masterpiece', but the others 'rather disappointing in detail', though the 'general effect is marvellous'. They will visit Fatehpore Sikri at the weekend with William Archer, and [Arthur] Moore, the "Times" correspondent in Persia, whom they have made friends with here. Moore is a liberal, and writes 'telegrams on Persian affairs from the Persian constitutionalist point of view that the "Times" prints and 'then write leading-articles to explain away'. Saw I'timad-ud-Daulah [Ghiyas Beg]'s tomb this afternoon, which is 'a most exquisite building'; [originally] enclosing a photograph of an interior chamber, as well as a view of the Taj. Cannot remember whether his father has been to Agra. After Gwalior, they hope to go to Chhatapur as the guest of the Maharaja, then to Benares, Patna, and should be at Calcutta by Christmas. [He and Dickinson] have not yet decided whether they have time to go to Burma; Forster is with them now, but will leave them at Chhatapur. They cannot go to Jaipur as there is a bad outbreak of plague there, so have 'reluctantly decided' to miss Udaipur and Rajputana completely. Has been keeping well, except for a slight touch of fever at Lahore which the doctor 'stupidly mistook for German measles'; Dickinson is also well. Very glad the ceremony at Stratford 'went off so pleasantly'; returns the cutting of the speech made by his father; if he has another copy, he could send this to Bessie to keep. Has had 'very cheerful letters from her', and expects she is now back from the Netherlands; glad that Julian is 'so well and happy', and hopes he will not 'become too noisy'.

Weybridge. - Has not yet gone to W[est] H[ackhurst] because of his mother's lumbago; would like Trevelyan to visit when he does go as he wants to hear about 'Gilgamesh et cie'. Thanks Trevelyan for invitations. Has 'laid in a stock of these p[ost] c[ards]'.

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - He and Masood have been at W[est] H[ackhurst]; heard that the Trevelyans were away in the Post Office when about to send a telegram to them.

8, Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad to have good news of Bessie and Paul; they look forward to seeing them all soon. Caroline has sent for [E. M. Forster's] "The Longest Journey", and Sir George will read it after his current novel. What Robert says about the Apostles inspires him to send some 'scraps... unearthed' when sifting old letters; Cowell was an 'ideal personage... a man who carried camaraderie to the highest point in [their] set and generation'. [Henry] Jackson persuaded Sir George to 'take over my MA' since the University may someday want a Liberal representative. Has nothing to do, and is very tired after sixteen consecutive months of work, including two of illness; the proofs [of the last volume of "The American Revolution"] will be a pleasure. Sends best wishes to Bertie Russell.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad that Elizabeth has heard of some nurses who may suit her, but sorry that she has this trouble. Good that Julian is so well; she and Sir George hope to visit in October and see him. Thinks [E. M.] Forster must be interesting, since his novels are 'so clever & original', though she does not think he manages plot well. Has been reading [Myra Kelly's] "Little Aliens", about 'the little Jew children in America', which is 'pretty & funny; but quite slight'. Sorry Mr [Donald] Tovey is not progressing quickly, but it must require much work to write the music for an opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"]; probably best that it will not be put on next summer, as 'the world will be simply mad over the Coronation'. George's children are 'much improved': Mary has shown no signs of temper; Theo is 'passionate occasionally' but still young, and a 'very nice boy'; [Humphry] seems quite strong now.

Postmarked Abinger Hammer. - Will come to lunch on Sunday, with dog if Trevelyan can feed him too.

Headed notepaper for West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - The mystery is solved: his aunt, Mrs Alfred [?] has discovered that Agnes is leaving them to go to Shere and 'nurse a slight acquaintance who comes out of a Home on April 9th. Thirty days notice for this, after living with us thirty years'. Wondered what '"cook (single handed)" means' in their advertisement 'one hand, or in no need of assistance'. Thanks Bessie for her 'sympathy and help'.

Venice. - Is very sorry to hear the news [the death of the Trevelyan's daughter Susan] and hopes Elizabeth Trevelyan is all right; would like to hear. Is having a good time, and hopes to go on to various other Italian towns such as Ferrara, Ravenna and Faenza.

Postmarked Abinger Hammer. - Has left his umbrella behind, asks Trevelyan to send it back; this section is crossed through as the umbrella has arrived. Would like to know what the ink pills taste like. Has told T. & G. to send Trevelyan their catalogue.

54 Tufton St, S.W.1. - Thanks Trevelyan for the "Pterodamozels", which he did not know before; 'what a disgusting time it recalls, & how sad it is that Ld Wottlepays are still permitted to "carry on"!'; is 'much tickled' by Trevelyan's 'flexible, ingenious, colloquial rhythms'. Comments on '[h]ow delightful it is when poets exchange compliments!': is very happy to have had Trevelyan's 'appreciative letter' about "Lingual Exercises". Is a little worried after meeting Morgan [Forster] this morning and hearing that Trevelyan had been 'puzzled' by his 'lines about bullet & bayonet' ["The Kiss"]: the 'wretched poem has been a nuisance' to him, and he has been told that it has been used as proof that his 'heart was quite sound in spite of other pacifist poems'. Did not realise its ambiguity when he first published it; wrote it ironically after hearing Colonel Campbell, a 'sort of Isiah [sic] who went up & down France preaching bloodiness to the troops' give his 'celebrated lecture on "the spirit of the bayonet"', assisted by a sergeant to demonstrate 'what the Col. called "the killing face"'; remembers thinking afterwards that it was impossible to be both a good soldier and a good poet. If Trevelyan could see his war diaries, he would realise 'how difficult it was to be two things at once' since Sassoon always knew the only way he could show his 'interest in the humanity of the men was by being an efficient officer', and would only have made things harder for them if he had shown his 'disgust at the futility of what they were enduring'. Expects Trevelyan would say he should not have been there at all; did try protesting, but this only ended in him 'being obliged to go back & try to get killed'. This does not matter now, but he hopes Trevelyan will 'readjust his impression' of the poem. Does not often think about the war now, and it 'all seems quite incredible' when he does.

Harnham, Monument Green, Weybridge. - Will post [pith] helmet to Trevelyan on the boat. Leaves on Monday. Asks Trevelyan to find out whether [Gordon Hannington] Luce is a first class passenger, and if so to organise his seat as well: he comes on at Naples.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Will visit on Monday and look forward to both Trevelyans coming on Wednesday. Does not have H.E. volume VI [?]

Kenilworth Villa, Victoria Road, Dorchester. - Regrets that an Easter visit will not be possible: he will be either with the Eckhards, or his sisters at Lyme. Is 'oppressed' by the 'horror of the world'. Hopes Forster will join him at Lyme. Expects Bob will return soon.