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The Heald, Coniston, Lancashire. - Bob has correctly identified the 'weak point of all stories that have even a suspicion of detective interest': that it 'steals the limelight from the actors'. It is 'fun' to experiment occasionally, and he got a 'sort of larky pleasure' from writing the "Big Six". A phrase in Bob's letter lifted his and his wife's hearts: 'This senseless war'. Thinks it could and should have been avoided, and could have been ended a long time ago with 'infinitely less damage to Europe as a whole' than now seems inevitable. The 'prodigious speeding up' of Bob's output which the war seems to have produced is however a great thing; has got great pleasure from his translations [of Horace, Juvenal and Montaigne] and thinks it a 'beautiful, consistent, original book', which sent him back to other works, especially "Pterodamozels" which 'stabs through the joints of the brass armoured bombasts'. Has also much liked Bob's "Epistle to Joan Allen". Very cheering to think Bob can write such things despite the times. He and his wife have gone to the lake country: he has 'got a bit of the shore of Coniston Water' and some land above, with a 'very ugly hovel' which they hope to add to if 'the war ends before we do'. They would very much like to see Bob there: there is just enough room to 'squeeze in one not too pernickety guest'.

King's Head Hotel, Wroxham, Norfolk. - Knows that Trevelyan will be sorry to hear that, while on a fishing holiday on the Norfolk Broads, Arthur was taken ill with an ulcer in his appendix and had to go to the hospital in Norwich for an immediate operation. Evgenia was not with him but came at once; he is only just starting to improve and will have to stay in hospital for another fortnight, then will join her at the hotel for a while. They would both be very pleased if Trevelyan could come to spend a weekend there.

Low Ludderburn, Windermere. - Sorry not to have replied sooner, and to be unable to help with a suggestion for cure of arthritis; neither she nor Arthur knows anything about it. Trevelyan might have heard a cure for duodenal ulcers at their house, which is to stop using aluminium cooking vessels: they are doing this and Arthur seems to benefit. Dr R.M. Le Hunte Cooper of Harley Street has written a pamphlet on the subject; she has no idea whether this would help arthritis. They hope to see Trevelyan here soon and take him for a sail in the Swallow'.

9 Weymouth Street, W.1. - Has been enjoying reading some of Trevelyan's old work and also 'reaping new things' [in "From The Shiffolds"?]; is sorry that Trevelyan has taken 'piteous' out of the last line of the "Trojan Captives", but perhaps it is 'only the Conservative in [him] that wants things exactly as they were'. Thanks him also for his kind words about G.N? ["Great Northern?"]; wished he agreed with them. Calls Trevelyan his 'most valued reader'. The Ransomes are still searching for a house in the country, out of earshot of the 'INFERNAL wireless'.

Heald, Coniston, Lancashire. - Is sorry to have kept Trevelyan's book about the poacher so long; it was buried under other things and 'had become a silurian or palaeozoic stratum'. Asks how he, the 'rest of the colony', and Joan and Polly Allen are. The Ransomes are planning a move south as Genia has had enough of the weather; asks Trevelyan to let him know if he hears of a likely flat in London or nearby.

Harkstead Hall, near Ipswich, Suffolk. - Thanks Trevelyan for his Christmas present [Trevelyan's "Collected Works"]; his wife objects to the fact that he keeps leaving the books around so that there are always handy. Is 'animal-hunting in them at present', enjoying Pusska and 'a perfect bat'; thinks there is something Buddhist about Trevelyan's ability to distil the essence of such creatures and that one day he should make a book of animal 'reincarnations only'. Hopes Sturge Moore has recovered from overexertions on Leith Hill; got through 'that Cambridge business' though has now been 'let in for Oxford as well'; liked Mrs [Dorothy?] Moore and some of her young friends, though thinks her taste in poetry 'too fashionable and modern'.

Low Ludderburn. - Bad luck that Trevelyan found Dan Macmillan away; has just had a note from Harold Macmillan to say that Dan was ill and that 'he and his partners' would go into the matter once [Trevelyan's] books arrive. Hardly knows Harold; it might be a good thing to wait until Dan recovers. Emphasises that Trevelyan should send a typescript of his "Selected Poems" rather than a pile of books to look through: even the best of publishers have 'hardly any imagination at all' and need help to 'see' the book waiting to be brought out. Has very much enjoyed looking through Trevelyan's work again: "Pusska" is 'particularly incandescent' for the Ransomes at the moment for 'a special reason curled up in a basket'.

at the King's Head, Wroxham, Norfolk. - Apologises for not thanking Trevelyan sooner for letting him read "Thersites", which he much enjoyed; hopes the news that he is working on another [dialogue] means that he has 'opened a new mine' and is 'yanking ingots out'. Hopes he and his wife will see Trevelyan on the way through town; are going to Falmouth by steamer from London on 18 November. Is getting on well but cannot do too much travelling, so must put off a trip to Dorking to see the Trevelyans. The King's Head is a delightful pub. Sends regards to Bessie Trevelyan and the [Clifford] Allens.

Low Ludderburn, Windermere. - The Ransomes are going to the [Norfolk] Broads to sail, and Ransome will try to forget his 'wretched story' ["Winter Holiday"?] which is in a much worse state than Trevelyan's can be, and which Ransome describes in sailing terms. Will be very jolly to see Trevelyan in summer, by which time he hopes both their stories will be "galloping gaily". Sends regards to the Trevelyans and [Clifford] Allens.

Low Ludderburn, Windermere. - P.D ["Peter Duck"], 'extra-illustrated with a smudge of the Swallow', has gone to John Hayes; is flattered that 'a discover of pistols & coins of the best [?] smuggling period' should be interested in his own 'minor finds'. Is very glad that Trevelyan likes the book, but does not believe what he says about his first attempts at a prose story; wishes he were coming up before going to Italy, as the Ransomes could put him up. Their plans are uncertain: may go south for a while in search of sunshine in the book goes well; Hugh Walpole praised it in the "Observer", and Cape have written to say they are already reprinting, but he does not yet dare to be too hopeful, and in any case they will not leave until Christmas. Wishes he could make up his mind about the next book, and invites suggestions. Encourages Trevelyan to 'plunge on' with his story; he himself would never have managed to get a story written if he had 'insisted at beginning at the beginning'.