Empire Nursing Home, Vincent Square, London, S.W.1. - Is getting on very well now [after his operation] with little discomfort. Bessie reads Trollope to him most afternoons, and he usually has visitors each day: T[homas] S[turge] Moore is coming to tea today. Hopes Bessie will go to Paris next week, then on to Holland: no reason for her not to now Bob is 'so well' and go to the C.A.s [Clifford Allens] for the first couple of weeks after he leaves the nursing home. He works through chess games in the papers, and has just been looking at the tournament between Cambridge and Oxford, in which the marks were equal; Bronowski, whom he supposes is Julian's friend [Jacob] 'lost his game rather disastrously'. Terence Gray wants to do Bob's [translation of Euripides'] "Medea"in May, which he has agreed to but now regrets; Gray is trying to get [Maria] Germanova for Medea, but 'wants her to do it for nothing'; Bob has telegraphed to her saying she should 'on no account... accept the engagement. It is too monstrous'; Gray probably wants him to step in and pay Germanova himself, which he will not, as he will not be able to get to rehearsals and go through the part with her; Gray is also intending to put Medea in a mask, which is 'the height of folly' regarding Germanova. Unlikely Germanova would have been able to take the part with her husband [Aleksandr Kalitinsky] so ill. Wonders if [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy has gone to India yet and whether he has finished his book. Hopes Julian is getting on well with his work; frescos must be 'fun to try', though expects Julian is 'likely to make rather a mess at first'. [Étienne Adolphe?] Piot was 'technically quite competent' but artistically bad. Asks to be remembered to [George] Reavey, and to [Jean] Marchand if Julian sees him. Hopes Bessie will come to Paris next week, and see the Luce family. He and Bessie had hoped to see the Sykes family this month, but had to put it off; supposes [Hugh]'s exams are coming up anyway.
28, Rue de la Tourelle, Boulogne sur Seine. - Thanks Trevelyan for his kind letters; does not know what he would do at this uncertain time if he did not have Trevelyan's 'affection and kindness enveloping... and guarding' him. Very grateful for the days he spent at the Shiffolds; asks Trevelyan to thank Mrs Trevelyan for him, as he cannot express himself adequately in a letter. Had a good crossing and found Rex [his dog] well. Has been looking after the old Indian he met in London, who has had 'three successive strokes of paralysis' and is in a bad state; he has a wife, just emerged from purdah, two illiterate servants, and two small children; he is now a little better and will be leaving for India at the beginning of next month. Suhrawardy is also helping another family of Indians, 'very fine, khaddar-clad, orthodox, gentle & fat', and Ellen [Vinaver?] jokes that he is the 'unpaid consul in Paris of Nationalist India'. Has had no time to look for flats, and cannot make any decisions, since Madame Germanova wishes to spend the three months she will be in France outside Paris, then he will go to India in October for at least three months. Is waiting for her husband [Kalitinsky] to return from Prague before he make a decision; meanwhile Rex is with Ellen and the flat is cold and empty without him. Does not know what will come of Gandhi's action [the Salt March to Dandi] but is moved to tears by it. Asks Trevelyan to write to say he has recovered from his accident, and tells him to take care when crossing roads and getting on buses. He failed, but Ellen passed, the test.
Boulogne s/ Seine. - Does not know whether he can come to Italy yet as his quarterly allowance from Hyderabad is late - '[p]eople in the Nation States are so slack and unmindful' - and he has debts to pay off; in addition, Professor Kalitinsky is trying to defer a recall to Prague so that he can look after the dog. If Trevelyan has to leave at the beginning of February, as he wrote from Berlin, Suhrawardy had better wait for him in Paris. Julian has been for lunch and met Kalitinsky, his son Andrei, and Reksusha [the dog]; Suhrawardy then saw him again with two Cambridge friends in a café in town. Has had great news from Madame Germanova whose performance at her theatre as Masha, in [Chekhov's] "Three Sisters" in English, went very well. Was looking forward to hearing the new version of [Trevelyan's] Sulla. Trevelyan is the kindest of his friends; very much hopes to get to Italy to see him. A postscript on a separate sheet describes a meeting with a friend of Cheng Sheng, Lung Wo; he looks very young but is apparently an admiral of the Chinese fleet and is travelling with his wife and children on behalf of the Nankin government. He is anxious to meet people sympathetic to the Chinese nationalists, and Suhrawardy wonders if Trevelyan could see him and introduce him to meet Waley and Lowes Dickinson, or perhaps a Labour Party member who likes China. He talks English better than Cheng Sheng, though he has a very soft voice; seems a nice, kind man, though who knows what he might have done during the revolution.
28, Rue de la Tourelle, Boulogne sur Seine. - Has been at Nice with an attack of bronchitis after his father's departure for India. Thanks Trevelyan very much for inviting him to be his guest in Italy: would like this very much, but he has too much work to do, and he could not leave Reksusha [the dog] again so soon as the old Russian princess who took him last time, and her one servant who is 85, are terrified of him. He could come in the third week of January for about ten days if Trevelyan were still there then, as Professor Kalitinsky will be there. Very happy to hear of the success of "Meleager": performances are usually better than dress rehearsals. [Robert] Bridges has not sent his book, as he promised; asks Trevelyan to write with his impressions of it. Likes the title ["The Testament of Beauty"]: there 'is something sad & wise in it'.
28, Rue de la Tourelle, Boulogne-sur-Seine. - Apologises for not writing sooner. Madame G[ermanova] has gone with the Pitoëffs to Holland and Italy so he is alone in the flat with the dog. She, her husband, and their son return for Easter; she has had great success with [Chekhov's] "Three Sisters", Figaro and so on. Asks how Trevelyan's play [his translation of Aeschylus' "Prometheus Bound"] was received at Cambridge; Trevelyan had described his impressions of the dress-rehearsal, but this is often very different to the real performance. Has asked the girl who is typing up his own translation of Sheng Cheng to send Trevelyan the first carbon copy for corrections; does not think it needs to be very literal, but wants to know how it reads in English; it has not yet been accepted by a publisher. He suggested that [Julien?] Luchaire should write to Trevelyan, because of his work as a translator and favourable attitude towards international collaboration; thinks he should reply with names of books which should be translated and others that have not been well translated. It would also be useful to mention why translations were not well done in England, and criticism of the system by which publishers give books to people; he could quote from his 'excellent preface to "Aeschylus". The man in charge of the project is Giuseppe Prezzolini, whom he admires and likes very much. Hopes Trevelyan's play for Masefield is now ready.
28, Rue de la Tourelle, Boulogne-sur-Seine. - Was going to write the Trevelyans to thank them for their hospitality: delightful to meet Trevelyan again after so many years. Finds it hard to make new friends now so values old ties all the more. Will keep the Sunday when Trevelyan comes to Paris free, and hopes he will come to dine with them when he arrives on Saturday. Has heard nothing yet about the Geneva job; is very anxious about it as it is his 'only chance to get a background of comparative security' and his struggles since leaving Russia have affected his health and spirit. Not easy for someone like him, who has preferred adventure, to be 'taken back into the folds of respectability'. Lord Lytton, who led the Indian Delegation this year, promised to secure the post, but Suhrawardy fears his Indian advisors favour other candidates. Has spoken much about Trevelyan to Marie Germanova, who will be pleased to meet him and regrets that her husband [Aleksandr Kalitinsky ] 'a Byzantinist & a very fine man' will be out of Paris. Asks to be remembered to Mrs Trevelyan and Julian, whom he hopes is ready for Cambridge.
Thanks Julian for his letter; asks him to let them know next time whether [Maria] Germanova, [Aleksandr] K[alitinski] and Rex [their dog] are living in [Hasan] Suhrawardy's rooms or elsewhere, whether they are very uncomfortable, and whether they have heard when Suhrawardy is returning, as he was 'very vague' in his last letter, though he seemed to like Bob's "Epistle" to him. Terence [Gray] and [Frank] Birch seem to want to produce his translation of Euripides' "Medea" at the end of May; thinks this means Birch rather than Terence, and perhaps he will like his production more than he usually does Terence's. Does not know whom they have chosen to play Medea, and fears it will be 'no one adequate'; Germanova is 'out of the question... after the fiasco of Terence trying to get her for nothing last year'; in addition she would need weeks of study and coaching to do it in English, even if she could leave Kalitinski, which she clearly cannot; asks Julian to say how Kalitinski is now. Bessie is distributing the notices for [George] Reavey's book ["Faust’s Metamorphoses: Poems"]; Bob thinks it would be better if they had a sample of the poetry as well as the drawings. Sends his love to [Jean] Marchand, if Julian sees him again. Will not go to Paris at Easter, nor to Wallington for Kitty's wedding, but stay at the Shiffolds. C.A. [Clifford Allen] is 'fairly well', but has 'ups and downs'; Bob is going with the Allens to see René Clair's ["À nous la] Liberté" on Thursday, but otherwise he 'plug[s] away at [his translation of] Lucretius"; will soon have to get in touch with [Hugh] Sykes Davies again. Julian's Mount Athos picture 'looks very well on the floor still'; must put it up over the fireplace. Quotes a poem by Po Chu-I [Bai Juyi] about his study. Things are going more smoothly at Edinburgh now; thinks [his and Tovey's opera "The Bride of Dionysus"] will be better sung and produced than last time.
c/o Conte Umberto Morra di Lavriano, Villa Metelliano, Cortona, prov. di Arezzo, Italy. - He and [Umberto] Morra send best wishes for the New Year. Has been here a week after a fortnight at I Tatt; Mary [Berenson] was 'very ill', but seems to be recovering; it will however be a 'long illness'. Only saw her twice, for a couple of minutes; she was 'very charming' and asked after Julian. B.B. [Bernard Berenson] was 'subdued, but very sympathetic'. There were no dinner guests, so most nights Nicky [Mariano] read aloud "Anna Karenina", which he found very fine and much 'more subtle' than he, or B.B., remembered. Aubrey and Lina [Waterfield] were 'a bit tired out by their two pupils'; they and [their daughter] Kinta all asked after Julian and seemed to have enjoyed his visit. Hears from Bessie that Julian's show opens on 15 January; if he stays in England until the end of the month Bob will be sure to be back at home. If C.A. [Clifford Allen] goes to Paris, will try to meet him there. Expects he will stop for two or three days at I Tatti when B.B. returns around the 20th, then come back home. Though it is very cold, has been out in the hills every afternoon trying to start a long poem. The "Nation" have at last published his 'blasphemous poem'. He and Morra read Shakespeare, Ariosto and Tasso in the evening; Makalé [the dog] barks on these moonlit nights, which makes him 'open the window and shout at him in English and Italian'. Sends love to [Maria] Germanova, [Alexandr] Kalitinski and Andr[usha Kalitinski] if Julian sees them. Is going to Florence to celebrate the new year with Alda [Anrep], Nicky etc. Glad Julian is seeing Millet; John Walker will probably be in Paris for a few days so Bob has given him Julian's address, but explained he is likely to be very busy; got to like Walker, who will probably stay at the [Hotel] Londres, 'very much this time'.
Poggio allo Spino, Consuma (Prov. di Firenze). - Elizabeth sent Julian's letter giving Belgrade p[oste] r[estante] as an address, so hopes this will be forwarded. Glad Julian has had so good a time; expects he will be in Greece by now. Is at B.B. [Bernard Berenson]'s; [Raffaello] Piccoli is here at the moment talking to Berenson about Sir Thomas Browne, whom he has been translating. He is evidently still 'far from well', but seems better today; if Julian is passing through Naples on his rerun from Greece Piccoli hopes he will visit him there. The Waterfields [Aubrey, Lina and their children] are also hoping Julian will come to Poggio [Gherardo] on his way back; he himself spent 'a very pleasant week in camp with them', doing some work on [his translation of] Lucretius and his own writing; they were all very nice, though Aubrey 'as usual was often very cross, chiefly with Lina, who always takes it very nicely'. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed Julian's visit, and he 'had become more or less legendary': Bob was for instance taken to see the rock which Julian 'had split by painting it', and Aubrey had done a sketch of the incident. Cecil [Anrep], who is 'very nice, and knows English much better' is here for a few days. Bob is travelling to Paris on Tuesday, will spend two nights with [Hasan] Suhrawardy and [Maria] Germanova, then go to London on Friday and the Shiffolds on Saturday. [Aleksandr] Kalitinski and Germanova, and he supposes Rex [the dog], will probably go to Prague for the winter; S[uhrawardy] is going to India after spending a few days in England. Kalitinski seemed much better when Bob was in Paris a month ago; while there Bob went to the Colonial Exhibition and saw the Bali Ballet. B.B. and Nicky [Mariano] would be glad to se Julian if he comes to Poggio. Roger [Fry] seems to have been at Florence and to have 'got on quite well with B.B.'.
Everyone hopes Julian will be 'very careful about the dogs' if he goes walking in Greece; he [and his friend Ralph Parker] 'should both have big sticks, as long as possible'; B.B. is sure that 'the young man who was lost on Parnassus' was killed by dogs, though Bob thinks it more likely he fell down a precipice. B.B. thinks Mistra [Mystras] is 'much more interesting' as regards art than Athos, though he has not been to the latter; he is 'very much irritated against Biron [Robert Byron]', who is now writing for the "Statesman", and says he 'talks great nonsense about art'; still, 'one might get a good deal from his book ["The Station, Athos"]'.
Wonders whether Julian will come to England before settling at Paris again; he should find the Shiffolds 'more or less in order'. Does not understand the 'political upset in England', and is reserving judgment until he can see C[lifford] A[llen] and others; T.M. [? ie Thomas Sturge Moore?] writes that Allen is also reserving judgement until the facts, which are 'very complicated', are clearer; Bob however thinks it a 'bad business', and that the Labour movement is 'smashed up for some time'; this is not a 'National Government', but a 'Tory-Liberal Coalition, which may, or may not, have been necessary to save the pound from collapsing'. Hopes Allen will not 'take it too tragically'. Encloses a 'poem in Po Chu I's manner', "Comano" which refers to a wonderful view he, Aubrey and Lina discovered one day; dated Aug 1931.
Furzen Wood, Abinger Common, near Dorking. - Has been sent some money for Julian's furniture, which he has paid into the account at Drummond's. Elizabeth has had to put off her visit to the Netherlands because of her 'nose-bleeding', which is 'not serious but a nuisance'; expects she will be able to go in a week or two. Is 'fairly right again' now himself, though gets tired if he does too much. They went to London on Wednesday for Donald [Tovey]'s first concert with Adila [Fachiri], who played a Bach sonata with Donald's new Dolmetsch harpsichord - though this could not be heard at all, 'as Adila would not play softly, though she said she did', and the Wigmore Hall 'swallowed up the poor harpsichord's jangling in its unacoustic maw'. The rest of the concert went well. Sorry to hear that Shahid [Suhrawardy] is ill and hopes it is not serious; supposes this may prevent him going to India. Hopes [Aleksandr] Kalitinski is better. Is going to see his [translation of Sophocles'] "Antigone" 'performed, or misperformed, by Terence [Gray]' at Cambridge; has kept away from rehearsals so is 'not responsible'. Has begun work again on an epistle to [Arthur] Waley and 'plugging away at [translating] Lucretius'. Must write to [Hugh?] Sykes soon to see when he can come to talk about it. He and Bessie are 'both quite cheerful, in spite of noses and operations'; the Allens [Clifford and Joan] also seem all right, though they have to take [their daughter] Polly up to London every other day for eye exercises. Hopes Julian's 'frescoe [sic] project will flourish'; warns him not to fall off the scaffold 'like Barna [da Siena] at San Geminiano [San Gimignano]'. Asks to be remembered to [George] Reavey, and hopes he has recovered.
Addressed to Julian at 7 Villa Brune, Paris XIVme, France. - Expects he will come to Paris on Wednesday 3 January, but perhaps not until the next day; had better stay at the [Hotel de] Londres. Will leave on the evening of Saturday 6 January. Hopes to see the Kalitinskys [Aleksandr, his son Andryusha, and wife Maria Germanova] and [Jean] Marchand 'if he is visible'. Betty Muntz comes to Paris early on Saturday morning. He and Bessie are having 'a very pleasant Christmas with the Archibalds [Dorothy and George]; all send love.
Addressed to Julian at 7 Villa Brune, Paris XIVme . - Will arrive at the Gare du Nord at 17.40 next Thursday and go to the [Hotel de] Londres. Tells Julian not to 'trouble' to meet him; they could meet at the hotel or Julian's place later for dinner, unless he is engaged; Bob will leave on Saturday evening. If possible, he would like to see the Kalitinskis [Aleksandr, his son Andreyusha and his wife Maria Germanova] on Friday, since Betty [Muntz] arrives in Paris on Saturday morning and 'will want to see pictures etc'.
Bolleystrasse 36, Zürich. - Is applying for Swiss naturalisation, in order to get a job after he finishes his studies; it is 'practically impossible for a man with a Nansen passport to find some work nowadays'. Has found a way to do this which his parents can afford, but Swiss law says only those who possess at least two thousand Swiss francs can be naturalised, which they cannot get together. Asks if Trevelyan could lend him this sum until the formalities are over, which he hopes will be by July 1935. Knows how much Trevelyan has already done for him and his family and is much embarrassed to ask again for help, but does not see any other way.
5, rue Denfert Rochereau, Boulogne sur Seine. - His wife Maria Germanova's death on 9 April after a 'long and serious illness'; the funeral was on 12 April at the Russian cemetery of St Genevieve de Bois. Asks them to forgive his delay in writing to them; he has felt her death greatly. Will write more fully later, particularly about her final hour.
5 rue Denfort Rochereau, Boulogne S[ur]/S[eine]. - Is very 'touched and grateful' for the attention Bob has given to his book; is lucky that the [English] translation will be reviewed by Bob; begs him to be totally objective. Left the clinic [in Zurich] three weeks after her operation, stayed with Andrusha and his wife at their flat for a week, then travelled back to Paris. This was very tiring, but she wanted to get back to her husband and Rex [the dog], and did not want to tire Bev who was still suffering from jaundice. Aleksandr Petrovitch did not look well, after the worry about her operation, and living alone far from the rest of the family. She is still 'very weak', but feels much better than before the operation; hopes to be herself again in a few more weeks. Has had a letter from Bessie; asks Bob to 'kiss her' for her; she will reply soon. Is very sad she cannot go to Osny yet, since the weather is so 'tempting to go "ins Grüne"'.
5 rue Denfert Rochereau, Boulougne S[ur]/S[eine]. - A[leksandr] P[etrovitch] has sent the larger part - ten chapters - of her manuscript to Bob today; these cover the 'most important turns' in her life and the theatre, and discusses the roles which formed her as an actress; they give a good impression of the work as a whole, and she thinks Bob could send it to Mr R[odker]; she hopes to send the rest in a few days. Anxious to hear what they think of it. Rang Miss Chetwynd on the telephone today to see how her operation had gone, but found it had been postponed due to her surgeon's influenza. The weather in Paris is lovely, and she much enjoys the views from their windows; expects it is also 'wonderfull [sic]' at the Shiffolds.
5 rue Denfert Rochereau, Boulougne S[ur]/S[eine]. - Very good of Bob to talk about her memoirs to Mr Rudker [sic: John Rodker]. Hopes to send the manuscript in a few days; she and her husband are currently re-copying it to make it 'decent and readable'. Is feeling 'very shy', as this is a new area of work for her; understands it may not suit English traste, being 'too Russian - personal, intimate and "mystical". It will be a disappointment, not a discouragement, if Mr Rodker does not publish it in English; in that case would like to know whether Rodker's opinion is also unfavourable towards the book itself; is 'very brave' and likes to struggle. Has seen Miss Chetwynd, who looks 'charming' but it is clear she is 'suffering'; liked her very much, and it turned out she had seen Maria act in London so they were 'not quite strangers'; an American girl had also seen Maria act, in New York. Asks him to thank Bessie for inviting her to see Mrs Moore; she enjoyed the evening very much. Mrs Moore is 'so artistic and human' and plays the piano, Maria's favourite instrument, beautifully. Will not judge Mr Ryker's [?] playing, but he was 'very nice and friendly'. Asks to be remembered to Ursula, and hopes she is well now.
61, Ripon Street, Calcutta. - Apologise for not writing sooner: has taken him a long time to settle down, but his books are still packed up as he cannot afford shelves. Has brought back Trevelyan's copy of [Arthur] Waley's book by mistake; will return it soon. Dull in Calcutta, but [Apurba?] Chanda is currently posted here so he has a friend; as he is a widower he does not go like the others do to the zenana [women's quarters] at dusk. Longs for Europe; went to a cinema to watch a film showing Paris, which made him very unhappy. It is very warm, though others find it cold; Bessie must have suffered during the cold, though he knows Trevelyan is 'impervious' to it. Has eight M.A. students, to whom he teaches History of Classical Art and its relations to Indian and Central Asian Art. The only break in his routine has been the visit of the M.C.C.: did not know which side to back. India 'very slow politically'. His friends [Germanova and Kalitinsky] write him distressing letters: they are very worried that they cannot pay Trevelyan off. They have been trying to sell the flat to return the money, but have not succeeded; they must have written to suggest Trevelyan taking it over. He should do what he thinks best; they are very worried that his money is 'tied up & so badly invested' in the depression. Has done no literary work, and is getting to be a 'narrow specialist'. Asks to be remembered to the [Clifford] Allens.
Boulogne S[ur]/S[eine]. - Will be very good to see Bob soon. The orthodox Christmas will be on January 7, and the next day is sacred to the Virgin Mary; she will go to church those two mornings if she is well enough, but will keep the afternoons for Bob. This is their first Christmas Eve alone: they 'cannot not celebrate it', though it is the 'European' feast day, and they feel 'lonely without the young ones [their son and his wife]'. Sending Christmas and New Year wishes to the Trevelyans.
Postcard also signed by A[leksandr] Kalitinsky.
c/o Grindlays, 54 Parliament Street, London S.W.(1). - Has not written before: his plans kept changing due to his financial situation and work 'they are nagging' him for from India. Now realises he will not be able to join Trevelyan in Italy, as he needs to work at the British Museum; hopes he might learn more from Mr [Bernard] Berenson later. Arrived in London about nine days ago, though he knew 'the Round Table fellows' had left, to look up books; has been ill since with flu and malaria. Bessie kindly proposed a visit to the Shiffolds, but he was not well enough; hopes he will soon go and meet her sister. Saw Julian several times before leaving [Paris]; his party was very enjoyable and Andriusha [Kalitinsky] and 'Mme G[ermanova]'s fair-haired pupil' were in 'raptures' about it. Hears his friends are well, except that Rex [the dog] has been fighting and the Professor [Kalitinsky] has had flu. Is very lonely, and 'at the mercy of the little socialist journalist (Indian)' Trevelyan met with him. Currently staying at 9, Oxford Terrace but tells Trevelyan to write care of his bankers. Asks to be remembered kindly to Berenson, Miss [Nicky] Mariano, and 'Zoë M.' if he meets her.
14 rue Nungesser et Coli, Paris XVI. - Bob and Bessie are very kind to 'our young people'; thanks them very much. Andrusha got their letter yesterday, on his and his wife's return from their civil marriage. Does not think they will be back in Zurich until 20 Mar; will write to Bob when she knows definitely. Bev will be 'very happy and satisfied to have the Shakespeare'. Mrs Robinson [Bev's mother] arrived with her daughter and son arrived in Paris on Friday; they all came to tea, and Maria decorated the flat with spring flowers 'to meet our bride'. Andrusha came on Saturday with his friend; she did not get much sleep that night due to excitement. The necessary civil marriage took place in the morning, after which she gave Andrusha 'a glass of Champagne and a Russian 'pirujak' [gateau] and mandarines'. Her husband took Bev's family to the Russian church, while she accompanied the young couple and their witnesses. Describes the religious ceremony, which everyone found very touching and charming. Mrs Robinson then gave the family lunch at her hotel, and the young couple took a taxi to the Gare de l'Est at five.
14 rue Nungesser et Coli, Paris XVI. - Thanks Bob very much for the money he sent for the flat; she got it on 8 October and wrote to thank him at once, but has just found that letter 'forgotten in a book'; apologises. Has not been very well, and has had to stay in bed with her bad heart; has felt her burden and hates 'this forced laziness'. Is better now, and hopes this will last; she tries her best not to over-exert herself. Julian and Ursula have been to visit, and she was so glad she forgot she was ill while they were here. [Hasan Shahid] Suhrawardy will leave soon, so she is very sad; he is looking for a radio for them, which is very 'thoughtfull [sic] and nice of him'. Hopes he will come next spring with his father. Andrusha is sitting his examinations, and they think about him all the time. Asks how Bessy is; was 'mentalement [sic] writing her long letters' all the time she lay in bed; will write to her when Suhrawardy has left. He and Alex[andre] Petr[ovitch] send greetings to the Trevelyans.
Lloyd Triestino P.fo Victoria, Port Said. - Very touched by the Trevelyans' letter; would have written to Bessie but knows it is difficult for her to read; it meant a great deal 'during the heavy days in London' to feel that they were both with him, sharing his 'inquietude'. Was glad to be near his friends during the [Czechoslovakia] crisis. Found the Kalitinskis worn out by anxiety. [Marie] Germanova read several chapters from her book ["My Casket of Treasures / Мой ларец с драгоценностями"] which he finds remarkable, with great insight into the 'nature and anatomy of art, but feels will be a difficult task for translators. Hopes that he will be able to return soon to talk more fully to Trevelyan. Hears that his nephew is better and almost fit to go to Oxford; has written to his cousin [Shaista Soghra Ikramullah?], telling her to again ask the doctor if he would like to get Ratcliffe in for another opinion on his nephew's mental state; hopes it was not too much of a strain for Trevelyan to see him.
26 rue de la Tourelle, Boulogne s[ur]/Seine. - Andrusha is writing to Trevelyan from Switzerland to ask him for help with his Swiss naturalisation, which is very important to them; would 'lighten [her] heart' to know he could work and earn money. She has given him the money he needs for the application, but it seems he also needs a guarantee of two thousand Swiss francs to be deposited under his name in a bank until the process is finished, which they hope will be in July 1935. Has made Andrusha write to Trevelyan about this himself as she wants him 'to become a man and to be responsible for himself', and knows how kind the Trevelyans are to them, but could not help writing herself as well on Andrusha's behalf.
Grand Hotel Pupp, Karlsbad. - Apologises for not replying sooner to thank Trevelyan for the 'many kindnesses' he has shown him this summer. Has been with his father, who came from India in August, seeing doctors in Paris, Vienna, and other European cities; they intend to leave 'this magnificent but boring place' at the end of the month, and travelling to England via Berlin, spending seven days in London in October. Is taking a cure for 'rheumatism & obesity'. It is a 'moving sight to witness the enormous crowds (mostly Jews) pacing the collonades [sic]' while taking the waters. Has been reading Eichendorff, and there are statues of Goethe everywhere. Apologises for not replying sooner to Julian, and encloses a note for him. Madame Germanova is alone in Paris 'keeping house for Rex' [their dog]; her husband [Aleksandr Kalitinsky] is in Prague and her son [Andrew] at school in Switzerland. Hopes the Trevelyans are well; asks if the new wing of their house is being built as they wanted. Was happy to hear of the success of Trevelyan's piece at the Masefields' and whether he is now working on his other piece, '?Wilmlowe'.
14 rue Nungesser et Coli, Paris 16. - Thanks Trevelyan very much for his cheque, which will pay for Andrusha's first semester [at the Politechnikum in Zurich]. Will be very happy to make [Bernard] Berenson's acquaintance, as will her husband. However, she really looks forward to the Trevelyans coming to Paris and to showing them their small flat. Asks to be remembered kindly to Mrs Trevelyan; she is grateful for all her kindness. Andrusha is 'full up' of his course: it is very 'moving' to see the beginning of this 'new course of life'.
40 Theatre Road, Calcutta. - Has sent many letters to Trevelyan to which he has received no reply; hopes that he and Bessie are well and have not suffered during the war. He is well but has changed profession: now is a member of the Public Service Commission, Bengal, selecting candidates for government posts in the region. Is glad to leave teaching, but has very few holidays; is saving these up so as to be able to come to Europe. Has only had one letter from Trevelyan, saying he was sending a recent book, which never arrived. Had no news of [Alexandr] Kalitinsky nor Andriusha [his son] and his wife, but has recently received an air mail letter from Bev. She has gone there from the US as she is expecting a child. Andriusha has been working in an aircraft factory and is now an American citizen; was recently appointed a naval lieutenant, in engineering, and is posted in France. He found his father still alive but looking much older due to his sufferings during the occupation. Andriusha wants to take him back to the States, but as well as visa difficulties he is reluctant to leave the place where Maria [Germanova, his wife] is buried. Hopes he will be able to see Trevelyan next summer. Very excited about Labour's victory in the elections; only wishes Lord [Clifford] Allen had been alive to guide the party. Relieved at the news of the defeat of Japan: passages will be much easier now.
5 rue Denfort Rochereau, Boulogne s[ur]/Seine. - Wonderful that there is peace for Christmas. Was in a 'Uni-Prix' shop, a 'sort of "Woolworth"' in Boulogne yesterday; there were many children there and it was very touching to see their 'joy and admiration of "père Noel"'. A[ndré: her son] and B[ev: his wife] are not coming to stay, but will be ski-ing at Grindelwald; her sister is in Germany, so they are 'alone with old Rex [the dog]'. They will not feel lonely since she is now working in the Russian theatre; it is a joy to help the other actors and be useful; [her husband] Alexandre Petrovitch helps her and is interested to see the public who come to performances: the older ones 'weep very much' and the younger ones laugh a great deal'; 'joy is needed nowadays'. Is working on a new play, and the theatre is also putting on "Uncle Vanya" again: Chekhov's plays are 'always so liked'. Has seen fragments of his letters to his wife, and it is strange 'how unlike him they are. They are not simple, natural' and cannot be compared with the letters of Pushkin and Tolstoy, and are as if he is 'all the time playing, hiding himself'; a friend who knew him suggested this was his wife's influence; she always felt uneasy leaving him in the Crimea to act in Moscow'. Is not happy about playing "Uncle Vanya" again, as she feels too old for the part of Helena; asks Bessie if she could possibly send any old dresses she does not need for her costume. Bob sent her a very nice letter and she is working well since he told her not to 'hurry so much': will send two more chapters to Rudker [John Rodker?] tomorrow, and has handwritten four more; now one more remains to be written about America. Her days are very full with rehearsals and writing; thanks God that her 'heart is so clever'; thinks work is the best medicine for it. Asks Bessie if she hasread any of the translation of her book, as she is anxious to know what she thinks.
26 rue de la Tourelle, Boulogne s[ur]/Seine. - Very touched to receive Mrs Trevelyan's letter: knows her eyes are weak and it is an effort to write. Apologises for not answering at once: kept postponing the decision not to visit. Cannot come as it is the time when theatres in Paris make arrangements and she cannot afford to miss any offer. She has a part, but it is 'not very pleasant': very small and uninteresting, playing a comic charwoman. She is not ambitious to play big parts, but it is a 'very ungrateful task' to play small parts with Pitoeff's theatre company, as he does not care about them, and just makes them 'only a background for himself and his wife'; also he has the habit of not paying his actors. Her husband and son do not want her to take the part, seeing it as a 'compromise with [her] artistic conscience', but she is not brave enough to refuse; has always agreed that there 'are no bad parts, only bad actors', so will try her best. Not 'very agreeable' that the play is 'bolchevik', but she must say it is good. Has done four days film work recently, which she much enjoyed; hopes to be asked again as she thinks they were pleased with her work. It is a French film called "Rose" [directed by Raymond Rouleau], in which she plays a peasant woman, mother of a young man who is a chauffeur: it was a very small role, but she loved it, and her family said she said she looked much younger after the few days work. Apologises for talking so much about herself, but she enjoys it so much, and the thought of Mrs Trevelyan's 'warm attention and sympathie [sic]... stimulates [her] courage'. Is very glad to hear about Julian, and asks to be remembered kindly to him and his wife.
21, Theatre Road, Calcutta (on University of Calcutta printed notepaper). - Has not heard from Trevelyan for six months: received no reply to the letter he wrote from the boat. Was saddened by a reference to [Clifford] Allen in the "Statesman of Calcutta" due to Allen's kindness to him and what he knows his death will have meant to Trevelyan. He too has been 'much in contact with death' recently. Has received the first volume of Trevelyan's "Collected Works", which is a magnificent book; was proud to see his name above the letter printed in "Rimeless Numbers". Needed to read 'pure and straightforward poetry'; realises more and more the 'trumpery in modernistic verse'. Was happy to think the book might have kept Trevelyan's 'mind steady' at the time of Allen's death. Is looking forward to the second volume. News from Europe is very worrying; Allen would have been 'invaluable' at this time. Clings to the hope of peace, but asks 'if bullies should not be punished'. Very hard to be away from Europe, which he feels to be his real home, and has no share in the exultation of many Indian nationalists at the idea of 'a new Pacific culture on the debris of Europe'. Hopes to come over, if only for a few weeks, in the autumn. Andriusha [Kalitinsky] and his wife have decided to move to the USA, and Suhrawardy worries about his friends left behind in Paris.