Showing 40 results

Hotel & Pension Palumbo, Ravello, Golfo di Salerno. - Apologises for not writing more often. Is very sorry that her aunt has been so unwell; hopes the anxious time has now passed; can quite understand how her uncle might 'develop infinite degrees of fussiness' under the strain and thus be 'the direct opposite of [Alphonse] Grandmont' as he is in many other ways. Hopes Tuttie [Maria Hubrecht] also recovers quickly. His aunt Annie [Anna Maria Philips] is a 'dear creature', but always complains he does not write to or visit her enough; he also likes her 'invalid friend [Sophie Wicksteed]... to whom she has devoted herself'. His letter [about the landslide which damaged the Hotel Cappuccini at Amalfi] appeared in the "[Manchester] Guardian" on 2 January; it has pleased the locals as it says the coast is quite safe; thinks he will 'take to journalism', which is much easier than writing verse plays'. However, he has got on well this afternoon; is 'making no end of the wife, who is no end of a heroine'; teases Bessie by saying she will not get the chance to be such a faithful wife, as he will keep a closer eye on her. Copies out 'an old fellow who wrote about you in the 17th century' [Richard Crashaw, "Wishes to his (Supposed) Mistress"].

Continues the letter next morning; has breakfasted and 'pumped [his] ideas on Latin poetry into bucket Straughn Davidson [James Leigh Strachan-Davidson?] for half an hour'. Finishes copying out the Crashaw poem; thinks it influenced Browning. Glad Bessie has heard some music. Is 'very fond of Rameau', and has 'often heard Dolmetsch play him'. They must find out where Gluck is being played and go there; he 'can't wait much longer without hearing the Iphigenia and the other great ones'; though she might think him a Wagnerian. Hopes she will hear Lamond again. Finishes the letter in early afternoon. It is cold and stormy, and he will go to 'a nook under the cliff' to work. Discusses the rumours that there are letters incriminating [Joseph] Chamberlain [in the Jameson Raid?]; the 'Parnell letters and the Henry forgeries [in the Dreyfus case]' are warnings to be careful about such things, though if genuine they should be published; if this leads to a 'basis for peace so much the better'. Hopes Bessie's housekeeping is not tiring her; he will not be 'exacting' when they are married, 'especially with Mrs Enticknap to do everything' for her

Headland, Mount Park, Harrow-on-the-Hill; sent to Trevelyan at the Shiffolds, forwarded to 8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Comments on the 'cheek' [of casting him as?] Klingsor [a reference to Trevelyan's "The New Parsifal"? See also 21/104-105]. Forgives him, as he 'seem[s] to be in (fairly) good company'.

Postmarked Mainz. - Asks Trevelyan to expand the hint about Naxos in 'Act III (new style' [of "The Bride of Dionysus"]. Increasingly grateful to Trevelyan 'for having managed without narrative': in spite of Wagner 'living on narrative', Tovey feels that 'it combines all the musical uselessness of dramatic plot-machinery with the dramatic uselessness of lyric music". Thoughts on the music for A[riadne]'s despair. Has heard many operas in Germany: in the 'provincial towns' of Darmstadt, Mainz, Wiesbaden and Frankfurt there is 'a much-better-than-Beecham opera every day' and only pay five marks for the best seats. The singers are variable, but the orchestra, 'conducted by nobody in particular, is most respectable'. This does not make a profit, but is 'considered as much a necessity as the electric light, the churches & the tramcars'. Imagines Salisbury and Winchester having such institutions. Still struggling with the Theseus and Phaedra duet, but has fixed the shape.

Pension Moragues, Puerto Andraitx, Majorca. - Is ashamed of not telling Bob how much pleasure he got from his "Rimeless Numbers", though it was the Propertius, which is 'not rhymeless', which he liked best; also thought the part about the 'rhododendrons and azaleas' in "The Wood" 'marvellously vivid'. Likes his hexameters. Glad Bob did not get 'stuck' in the fifth volume of "[The Tale of] Genji"; has now done more than two thirds of the sixth volume, which is 'far better' than any other part, but 'correspondingly more difficult to do'; is doing four hours work on it every morning and usually several more later in the day, yet rarely manages more than two or three pages. Has written all of Bob's corrections, all sound, into his copy; had better note them at the beginning of the sixth volume. Has 'detected some indications' that Cyril Connolly is in Majorca, but has not seen him. A 'Nubian scholar' called Armbruster, who was at Kings [College, Cambridge] and knows Goldie [Lowes Dickinson] 'fairly well' lives here; his father was 'a good deal connected with Wagner'. He has a 'delightful house and a wife from Syria who cooks well, but his head is just a little too full of Hamitic particles'.

S.Y. Zingara, 'floating in the neighbourhood of Skye, where it rains angoras and terriers'. - Hopes that Trevelyan and 'Mrs. Poet' are well, and that [their son] Paul is recovering. Has almost finished a 'declamatory sketch' of the first act [of "The Bride of Dionysus"]. Sets out the plan describing musical themes in some detail. Mentions some alterations he would like made at various points throughout the opera. Thinks the length is 'practical but formidable' but that it would be a 'great mistake' to cut it.

His theories about 'the possibilities of musical form in modern opera are vastly enlarged and changed': believes that much 'Wagnerism', such as 'the abnormal exaggeration of every pause in Wagner's sentences' will one day seem archaic. Wagner's 'business-technique' no longer impresses Tovey and he now feels, 'candidly' that he can do 'far better himself', in part because he has much better material. However, Tovey is 'driven to despair' by much of Wagner's music - he lists numerous examples - which can make him feel that the only point for him to write music is to amuse himself. Yet he thinks 'the musical patchiness of Wagner is an archaism' and 'the [Richard] Straussian development of the unmusical side of Wagner's technique is... the vilest humbug ever foisted on ignorant journalists by a cad'. Refuses to have anything more to do with 'modern tendencies' in musical drama; ready to learn many things from Debussy about timbre but cares nothing for the 'new doctrines & practices' from any other point of view.

Is visiting the Speyers around the 6 September and asks if they could meet there, or whether he could visit the Shiffolds after that or they could meet at the Dakyns' house over the Haslemere concert. Wants to run through what he's done on the piano, and would be very glad if Elizabeth Trevelyan could hear it.

Grand Hotel, La Croix de Cavalaire, Var, France. - Has so far been 'very lucky' with the weather; this is a 'beautiful place', he thinks more so than 'most better known places on the Riviera'. The hotel is 'fairly comfortable', and though large, does not hold too many guests. About the only English people here are Noel Farrer and his wife: he is Lord Farrer's brother, and Robert and Bessie know him them slightly. They are 'both very keen liberals, and very pleasant people to see something of'.

The only other people he knows are 'two old French Protestants, Mr & Mrs Ott', whose villa is about a mile away; he and Bessie made 'great friends with them here three years ago. Mrs Ott was 'once quite a fine singer and a beauty, and was a great friend of Nietszche', as well as knowing 'Wagner and all that set'. The Otts are 'very cultivated and intellectual people'; he occasionally sees them at their villa, or here.

Bessie writes that all is well with her and Paul. Robert expects her cousin Louisa Hubrecht will by now be with her. She is also looking forward very much to his mother's visit. Hopes his father has now recovered completely from his 'fall on the ice'. Asks him to thank his mother for her letter, which came yesterday. Happily, has had better news of Helen Fry since coming here: it is very likely she will recover soon from this attack; it is 'the future that causes great anxiety'.

Saw Charles briefly in London, who seemed 'very cheerful and ready for the fun'; Robert 'hope[s] it will be fun; it certainly ought to be. [He] can't say much for the Lord's case, if Earl Percy's is the best defence that can be made for them'. Will please Charles that 'Land Valuation is included in the program': Robert only wishes his brother 'were at the Local Gov[ernment] Board to help in working it out'.

Has just finished [H. G. Wells'] Kipps, and much enjoyed it: there might not be 'quite enough story' for it to be at its best throughout, and some things may have been 'more in place in Wells' [Modern] Utopia or Mankind in the Making, but it 'ain't a bad book - reelly, as Kipps would say'. Sends love to his mother, will write to her soon.

Steep, Petersfield. - Glad to have Trevelyan's "New Parsifal": doubts he 'could enjoy the Old [Wagner's opera] as much'. Asks whether the 'Induction' was an 'afterthought'; supposes not, or Trevelyan is 'very civil to Longman [?] & his clerical sow-gelder'. Particularly enjoyed Trevelyan's 'long Aristophanic lines'; mentions other aspects he likes. Hopes there will be a performance 'before Gizadibs [?] is dead or the Phoenix reborn or Circe condemned to Apollinaris or Percival found at the Poetry Bookshop'. Hopes there is 'good news of Gordon [Bottomley]'.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Sends thanks for his parents' letters. Bessie is on a two night visit to the Fletchers [Dorothy and Mary, her fellow students at St Andrews, and family?] near Petworth so he is alone except for Paul, who is well. Has not heard anything new 'about Sicilian matters' [the will of Florence Cacciola Trevelyan], and has not seen Withers or Crompton [Llewelyn Davies] for 'some time'.

Went to the English language performance of Wagner's Ring last week [conducted by Hans Richter]; the 'English singers came through the ordeal very creditably, considering that few of them had any operatic experience'. Hopes this will be a 'good omen' for the performance of Ariadne [The Bride of Dionysus], for which Tovey 'seems to be getting on with the music', though it will take some time. Gives dates of Tovey's concerts at the Chelsea Town Hall in Feb-Apr, in case his mother can go to any. Went to Charles and Molly's 'at home' last week, which 'was very pleasant'; saw George there, who seems well.

Paul is well, except for a little trouble with his teeth which are taking a long time to come through. He 'can stand up alone now, at least when he does not think of it, though the moment he does, he falls down'. Hopes his parents are well.

The Mill House, Westcott, Dorking. - Hopes his flowers reach her; his first since last summer, when he sent 'some Asphodel and some Mallow' ["Mallow and Asphodel", his first book of poetry]; they are mainly wild flowers. Explains the symbolism of all the flowers he has chosen, including ivy 'as the sacred plant of Bacchus' whom he worships 'in no vulgar sense, but as he was worshipped in the true esoteric mysteries'. Asks whether he should bring his poetry over to Holland or leave it in London. His father has written [to the lawyers] to say the papers must be ready to sign on Wednesday afternoon. Is going to London tomorrow; his parents will not return from Welcombe until Tuesday. The Enticknaps have given him a pair of brass candlesticks, which they could have in the dining room 'for ordinary use' or for reading in his room. [Charles] Sanger and [Robin] Mayor may cycle over for lunch or tea. Has had a 'delightful walk' and 'devised a new way of doing a mediaeval prose story' he has wanted to write for a long time. Has not done much German recently; will bring Wagner's librettos, which he thinks are 'damned fine poems'.

3, Hare Court, Inner Temple. - His flowers could not be sent on Sunday; fears they will be all withered. Has written to her uncle. His father thinks Bob will be able to sign the papers on Wednesday afternoon and travel in the evening. Will try and see the Dutch consul tomorrow about the birth certificate, though will not be able to show him the copy till his father returns from Welcombe. Will leave things such as the books he has brought for their honeymoon in London; asks again whether he should bring his poems over. Sorry that he 'dare[s] not trust a Dutch hatter' and will buy one in London; ' does 'not consider any "foreigner" has a proper idea of a top hat, except one or two Parisians'. She should settle about the wedding luncheon with her uncle if she feels strongly [about not having it in the hotel]; it would certainly not be 'so homely and nice'; expects Bessie's aunt would be on her side. His mother's cousin Harry [Henry Yates] Thompson has sent them a seventeenth century book on Cambridge 'with prints of all the colleges', a marble paperweight and a silver apostle fork. Has Booa [Mary Prestwich]'s parcel; will bring [Ambro Hubrecht's] spectacles with him. Is going to spend his 'last real Bachelor evening' tomorrow with Tommy Phelps; they are going to see "Tannhäuser"; not a perfect production, but [Milka] Ternina, 'the finest opera actress [Bob] has yet seen', is singing.

Worplesdon Rectory, Guildford. - Don [Donald Tovey] has been 'on one of his very fugitive visits' and read Trevelyan's "Ariadne" ["The Bride of Dionysus"], which gave them so much pleasure that Tovey is writing to tell Trevelyan. Is sure that Trevelyan and Donald's joint work [on the opera] will be 'epochmaking in the history of English history and music'. Only has criticism of the 'most pedantic kind', which he will not bother to write; if the public can stand the Wagnerian legend for the sake of the music, they should really appreciate 'what is truly classical in the best sense'. Encourages Trevelyan to visit, as he promised after they had 'deposited [Henry?] Jackson at the Charing Cross Hotel after that miraculous & bewildering ride in the motor omnibus'. A postscript asks whether [Thomas Babington] Macauley did indeed call Versailles 'a huge heap of littleness'; is sure he did, following [Thomas] Gray's use of a phrase from [Alexander] Pope; invites Trevelyan to see 'how minute [he is] becoming or become'. Also asks Trevelyan whether he is aware that the Arthurian legend exists in Scotland, and that at Meigle in Perthshire 'they show you the tomb of Queen Wander' who was pulled apart by wild horses 'for nae gude that she did', and Wander is Guinevere [see Gray, '"Works" (1825) vol II p. 274].

Trinity, Cambridge:- As he said [46/16] he is going to Oxford next Saturday, and will return to Cambridge early on Monday; does not think he will be able to stop in London, but will see her when she comes on the 21st [to stay with the Verralls]. Saw George last Saturday [at Harrow] and thought him 'flourishing'. Supposes she will be going to Harrow soon. Hears there has been 'a great attack on Welldon in the National Observer', which he has not yet read; expects it is 'probably very unfair, though [Welldon] has no doubt partly laid himself open to such attacks'. Bowen seems well.

Hopes that things are going their [ie the Liberal Party's] way everywhere: expects the Tories will 'talk a great deal about the Evicted Tenants' Commission, but that it will not much matter'. Has not heard from Charlie since he started North; hopes he has had a 'pleasant and instructive journey'. The elections in America seem to be going well, though Robert does 'not understand much about things American'. Asks if his father is well. Is glad that all are well at Welcombe; it is 'quite right that Snitterfield should become an asylum for the oppressed'. Has just been to a chamber concert with Crompton Ll[ewelyn] Davies. Is going to a Wagner concert next week; there are 'some quite first rate concerts here this term'.

8 Grosvenor Crescent, S.W. - Glad to hear his father is 'getting on well' and that his mother is also well. Julian is now 'quite right again', and went to school for the first time this morning. This was 'quite a success', though 'unfortunately Miss Croft the mistress was unwell', and so although the headmistress came for a while 'there was no one to look after things most of the time, except Bessie and another parent'. Julian seems to have enjoyed it all the same, though he 'cried a little when Bessie was round at No. 14 for half an hour'. The weather is very bad, so they travelled in a taxi. Bessie is well. They 'dine at No. 14 tomorrow'.

Is glad his mother likes Parsifal [his new book, The New Parsifal; since she is 'not familiar with Wagner's opera', she might 'find some of the mythology rather obscure', but he does not think that matters. Cannot be dissatisfied with the book's reception so far; true, he has only had two reviews so far, in the Scotsman and Manchester Guardian, 'both stupid though not unfriendly', but Clutton-Brock is going to review it in the Times, and he will probably get 'a few other interesting reviews'. Has already sold 'a fair number, and a good many people seem to like it'. Is very glad his father was 'so pleased with it', will write to him soon.

George made a 'very good speech at the Tramp Dinner, after Haldane, who also spoke very well, and pleased everyone'. He has 'promised to come on a tramp some Sunday this Summer', and they will try to make him keep his promise.

Their letters have crossed, and Tovey's suggestion about Acts II and III [of "The Bride of Dionysus"] was independent of Trevelyan's. The time interval [in Act II] is impossible as it stands. Had almost forgotten that his idea for the final chorus had taken so definite a shape: apologises for giving Trevelyan unnecessary trouble. Explains that it will not work for the opera to end on a solo by Ariadne: it is very different from [Wagner's] Isolde's Liebestod. Ariadne has had 'the longest and most varied monologue in any opera': hopes this will be feasible without cuts, as it will be 'the largest design ever attempted in dramatic music', though Trevelyan must not tell anyone he says so, especially F. S. Kelly. Still feels that there is too strong a trace of his own 'essentially prosaic', analytical ideas in Dionysus's new speech. Would not be surprised if by the end of the composition process 90 percent of Trevelyan's original readings were restored.

C/o Herr Geheimratt Strecker, Kaiserstrasse 32, Mainz. - Thinks a letter of his has gone missing, so will repeat the contents. Trevelyan's criticism of his own work in Act V of "The Bride of Dionysus" is 'very strong': he himself had thought of some of it but would not have felt sure until Trevelyan put it so strongly. Doesn't feel that Trevelyan's new proposals quite remove 'the appendix-like effect of Dionysus'. If it is clear that Ariadne does destroy herself, the Dionysus finale will be 'a mere Gounod's-Faust-resurrection'. Asks if Dionysus could be got into the action of the play earlier, and sketches out a proposal for this, outlining advantages. Cannot face the pause Trevelyan suggests between Ariadne's disappearance and the finale: he sat through [Wagner's] "Lohengrin" the other day (an excellent performance except that Elsa was just like '[Henry Gabriel?]Pelissier in one of his feminine rôles') and noticed how 'every stoppage on the stage becomes increasingly annoying' though there are not many and they are theoretically very dramatic. Question of the visibility of Dionysus now re-opened.

Thinks he will get on well now. Has been struggling with the Theseus-Phaedra duet, which he hopes to finish tomorrow; for the last couple of months has 'been suffering from a most disgusting inability to tackle anything', a feeling he is used to, but it has been very bad this last year, and coincides with depression about music in general. Feels that it is 'about the worst period in musical history since the 17th century' though admits this might be affected by his own low spirits. Thinks he should be over the worst now, and hopes in the summer they will be able to get the last act done together. Doesn't see how he can get back before the Classical Concert on the 25th as he wants to stop at Cologne and especially Amsterdam on the way home. Begs Trevelyan to 'put in an occasional week-end at Northlands': he will not be able to get about next term, as he needs to practice. Needs to make Northlands his base, as there aren't any academic posts which would give him such good chances for work: English music has no official openings for anyone not 'a cross between Marie Corelli, [John Philip?] Sousa, and Bernard Shaw'. Something which has been 'out of order' with him over the last year is coming right again. Is more sure than ever that the opera will be a 'big thing' if they can 'pull it through'.

Has been looking at [Trevelyan's] "Sisyphus" again; feels it will make 'a splendid modern Zauberflöte' and will certainly take it on when 'let out of Hanwell [Asylum] for finishing Ariadne. Is going to play the prison scene to Herr Geheimrat [Strecker] tomorrow, and will tell Trevelyan how it goes.

Munich. - Has suffered a bad chill since coming to Germany, and needs to stay in bed for a couple of days to be fit when Donald [Tovey] arrives and to hear the Brahms. Has heard two of [Wagner's] Ring operas and Parsifal, and a performance of [Beethoven's?] Ninth Symphony which made her 'ache to hear Donald conducting it'. Is very touched by Bessie's news [of her pregnancy]; hopes that in time she will have 'a little band of children' growing up in her home, and tells her to look after herself. The baby whose mother she was so worried about in August is now a 'marvellous success'. Is looking forward to the second act of Donald's opera ["The Bride of Dionysus"], and hopes she may hear it several times. Has scarcely seen anything of Donald over the last eighteen months. The Trevelyans must come to Northlands next time he is working on the opera: will be 'a great thing to get it finished and out of the way'. Donald played the first act when Mr [Hugh?] Godley was visiting, and she was 'enormously struck' by it; it is dreadful that she is 'out of touch' with his work, as their tastes in music are 'so absolutely the same'. Is missing Brahms' "Requiem", and is miserable. Hopes that Donald practised.

Has just returned from the Lake Hunt, 'stiff, but not crippled': describes some events of the three days of hunting, including being a hare on Sunday, when he 'enticed 3 hounds up Kirkfell (nearly 3000 feet)'; draws a map [on the last page] to illustrate his capture by hounds including Charles and young George. Was driven to catch his train by [Laurence John?] Cadbury 'who makes cocoa' in 'a care that looks as if it were made of silver'; the roads were 'full of Whitsuntide motors' but Cadbury 'drives very skilfully' and, passing the cars and charabancs where he could, sometimes went up to 80 miles an hour by the speedometer when the road was clear. Has almost recovered from the 'stiffness' caused by the Hunt. The Sangers and Dorothy Reece [later Dorothy Archibald] have been visiting; Mrs Sanger is still here, until Monday, when [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson is visiting. Elizabeth went up to London with Mr Sanger and Daphne to see Wagner's "Meistersinger", and returns tonight. The 'Exhibition has been demolished' after 'enormous' crowds in its last days, including 'the chairman of the I[ndependent] L[abour] P[arty: Clifford Allen], the ex-President of the Board of Works, the King, the Prince of Wales in Ivel cheese, and several distinguished literary personages.' Hopes Julian is enjoying bathing.

Glad that Julian is having a good time at Hamburg; envies him 'the chance of learning German properly' and seeing Wagner 'performed properly'. The Viennese opera company recently performed the "Ring" in London; the singing was very good, but the 'Covent Garden scenery and stage-resources' were 'miserable... it was a national disgrace'. Can send a German libretto with English translation for the "Ring" or "Tristan and Isolde" if Julian wants. Dorothy [Archibald?] 'has measles quite badly' but is now recovering. He and Elizabeth are going to Welcombe for a few days next week, then to Oxford to visit [Robert] Bridges 'the Poet Laureate, a few leaves from whose wreath I hope to steal'. The Sangers and Goldie [Lowes Dickinson] visited at Whitsun; Goldie may return when Dorothy is well. Saw George Moore in London this week, who recommended that Julian read Bertrand Russell's last book "An Outline of Philosophy"; thought he had it but can't find it, and is writing to ask if he has lent it to Goldie. Moore also thought that Julian might 'find some of the books dull reading them alone', but it would be much more interesting to go to lectures and discuss the ideas with others. The Welcombe Mabuse [Gossaert] was sold last week at Christies, and fetched more than any other picture except 'a fine early Rubens portrait'. Charles was there, and got a Canaletto of Venice for uncle George for Hallington. Asks to be remembered to Professor [Albrecht?] Mendelssohn [Bartholdy?], who visited some years ago; hopes he will visit again one day.

2 St Margaret's Road, Edinburgh. - Is glad Trevelyan agrees with his idea about the mist effect in Act III [of "The Bride of Dionysus": see 7/42]. Is getting on well, and has produced 'four big sheets', or forty-three pages of the old score, since he sent the wire to Trevelyan; he began in the examination room, 'racing the Mus Bac candidate at paper-spoiling'. He is also happy with the rest of the finished material: it is not the case that for him revision is 'an endless process, changing with [his] point of view'. Believes that when the job is finished, they will both feel he has 'not been unreasonably long over it'; in any case, it is 'the largest musical design that has ever been carried out with a fastidious sense of musical form and dramatic fitness'. Art and politics will not be 'exclusively governed by cads and invalids for ever' so it will not be so old-fashioned 'when the next half-dozen revolutions in art have become classical reality'. Odd to think he was afraid the opera would have 'dried up' in two and a half years away from it. Has been as tough a job for him as the "Ring" was for Wagner.

Has been working on 'the strong-winged foam-wanderers' chorus and has given it a new end; Vaughan Williams had criticised it 'in his vague puzzle-headed way' but neither of them could then see what the matter was; Tovey is now much happier with it. Discusses other changes he has made, including the removal of the effect used to represent Theseus' disappearance and the echoes of it; the double bass pizzicato he had had was 'curious confirmation' of his theory that plagiarism 'consists of echoing what you don't know properly' and is 'the exact opposite of the effects of scholarship upon art'; it came from [Richard] Strauss who uses the technique in "The Salad & the Electrocution" ["Salome" and "Elektra"] but always properly connected to something beyond the orchestra. Has got rid of it, not because he does not like Strauss - will happily reuse it elsewhere - as he has something else. Gives musical notation in his discussion of the 'hope only thy death's pain' figure. Proof of 'the finality of the big sheets' in Raabe's copy. Notes that in a work of this size 'most of what people say a priori about one's development of style is bosh' - compares Wagner - and decries the pressure on young artists 'to strike out new paths' which prevents them from producing work larger than 'watch-pocket size'. Will now move on to the Nereids. A pencil postscript on the first page that Grettie has 'been overdoing it' and ordered to take a rest, but she will be able to come with Tovey. They go to Oxford on 5 April. There are also pen and pencil postscripts by Tovey noting further progress on the opera on the back of the envelope.

West Hackhurst. - Hopes his wire reached her in good time; had been staying with the Kennets and only just got her letter. Monday the 28th would 'suit splendidly'; asks her to drop him a line to confirm nearer the time. Will of course meet her bus and take her back to it; she will have 'coffee on arrival, tea on departure, and alcohol between times - if acceptable, that is to say'.

He does 'dislike voices against music when there is no reason for it, but there was a reason here [further discussion of the BBC broadcast of his short story The Celestial Omnibus, see also TRER/ADD/45-46], and for the music being Wagner'. Believes the first chapter of A Passage to India is to be broadcast on the 28th, 'some unearthly hour of the night as usual'.

His mother looks forward to seeing Bessie.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Very sorry that Julian is so unwell again; does not like the sound of 'an asthmatic tendency'; the time in London has been spoiled but the Shiffolds would not have been any better for him. Wishes Elizabeth could find a nurse, or that they could help her; suggests asking the doctor who might know someone. Would like to come up to London to see them, but cannot leave Sir George; he is recovering 'wonderfully', and is getting some work done each day, but still needs much looking after. Asks if Robert liked the M.G. ["Manchester Guardian"] review of his book ["The New Parsifal"]; G[eorge] says the "Times" is going to review it. She has been reading it a great deal; told Robert she did not quite understand it, and hopes he is not vexed; she understands the 'fun' but does not always grasp its deeper meaning, and would know more of the characters if she had seen the "Parsifal" opera [Wagner]. The 'new poetry magazine' ["New Numbers"?] arrived this morning; asks if Robert paid her subscription, and how much it is; laments her increased forgetfulness with age. Booa [Mary Prestwich] and Hearn are also 'so old now, but excellent as ever'; Grace has been twenty years with them and Pantlin thirty. Had a good visit from George, though did not think him cheerful.

Hôtel Bellevue, Bad Nauheim, Germany. - Thinks there has been a problem with the dispatch of Julian's picture book: asks Bessie to let her know if it has not arrived. Is sending another copy to 'Durchläuchting's' [sic: Durchlauting, or Serene Highness: Eydua Scott Elliott, née Odescalchi] little daughter, Aydua Scott Elliott. Tells Bessie off for paying for the Trevelyans' stay at the Wheatsheaf at her invitation; Margaret Parratt has a bag with the money which must be returned, so Bessie must not talk of washing bills for 'that wretched Donald [Tovey]' who has not yet written to her. Nonsense that Donald's compositions and operas ["The Bride of Dionysus"] prevent him writing: she is 'smothered' under many tomes by letters of Wagner and Brahms, 'quite prolific if undistinguished composers', and if she does not receive regular news from Donald she will come home as it is 'no use spending a fortune here just to be cross and desolate'. A postscript asks what has happened about 'Mr Hilary [sic] Belloc': hopes the matter has not been neglected; also asks Bessie to tell Donald she never got the Northlands programmes he promised, which they must have.

Veronica, Silverdale, nr Carnforth. - Thanks Bob for sending his "New Parsifal"; will get him to write his name in it when he comes north. Read it with much 'zest and enjoyment' as if he had never done so before; thinks it has all 'come quite fresh and delightful'. Sure it is 'first rate and... will last a long time'; eager to see what the reviewers say, as soon as Bob has a 'bundle of cuttings' he can spare'. The 'Chiswicks [Chiswick Press] have managed the cover very well'; the 'arrangement with Bickers' [printers and booksellers] sounds good, and will probably be 'more efficient' than Longmans or 'liitle [Charles Elkin?] Matthews'. Will remember all this for "Mrs Lear" [his forthcoming "King Lear's Wife"], but thinks he should try Heinemann first as Bob suggests. Thanks Bob for taking the trouble to see [Edward] Marsh and writing; will follow up this opening as soon as he can; unfortunately the typescript [of "King Lear's Wife"] is not yet ready, since he has had a 'few bed-days', and there is an 'Old-Man-of-the-Sea of a plumber here' who makes work 'impossible'. The house is ready to move into; they are going to Allithwaite on Friday, on to Well Knowe for a fortnight, then 'back here for ever. This is a 'damned place, full of old maids collecting for the provision of woollen comforters for deep sea fishermen'.; mentions the suggestion in the local directory that Silverdale is named after 'Soever', a 'hardy Norseman'. Promises Bob that 'Mrs Lear' will be his 'Lenten task', and to get the typescript to Marsh by Easter.

Had a letter from [John] Drinkwater three weeks ago, who said he had seen Bob, and also asked for the 'refusal' of 'Mrs Lear'; have therefore promised to send him a typescript too. Drinkwater sent his [play] "[Oliver] Cromwell....."; Bottomley at length replied he was 'on his side about King Oliver', but that Drinkwater should not 'write poetry like a partisan'. Ernest Newman was 'offensive and vulgar' about [Wagner's] "Parsifal"; loathed' him as Bob did. Wishes he could have seen the opera with Bob. As it has just gone out of copyright, has bought a cheap score; expected it to be 'good but vegetarian and flabby' so was glad to see it 'so much huger' than expected; thinks 'the Amfortas... more moving than anything else in Wagner'. Has got hold of a Bohn edition of the Grimm "Fairy Tales" 'just like' Bob's, and now he and his wife read them out loud in the evening. Very glad that Julian is better: 'suppressed influenza' seems to have been a great danger for children recently, and Lady A[lice] Egerton says her little niece almost died of it. Hopes Sir George is also better. Adds a postscript to say that the French musical review S. I. M. ["Société internationale de musique"] for 1 January has a 'good portrait' of R[alph] Vaughan Williams and a piece on "Les Post-Elgariens" by Marcel Boulestin.

Il Frullino, San Domenico di Fiesole, Florence:- Recent rainstorms have put off their planned 'expedition' to San Gigminano; does not think he will start back to England before 8th [March], but 'should be back soon after that'. Would 'like to stay in London for a few days before going to Welcombe', which he thinks might be in mid-March; does not mind where he sleeps and 'the night nursery would be very nice', but would like to 'sit in a room looking out onto the garden'. Hears they have been having 'severe snowstorms' which may have caused harm 'after the early Spring'.

Has just finished the first scene of his libretto [on Theseus and Ariadne], 'or rather Mrs Costelloe's': she 'seems very much pleased with it, and thinks it will sing well', but they will have to see 'what the musician [Emánuel Moór] thinks of it'. Is using 'almost all the metres in the world, and inventing some'.

Encloses 'a receipt for gnocchi' given to him by Mrs Costello which they have had a couple of times: 'it is very good indeed'. Has been 'seeing Mrs Ross, who used to know Papa'; she 'remembers him as a young swell about town, and he was her partner in her first dance'. She 'tells wonderful stories' about her mother Lady Duff Gordon and grandmother Mrs Austin; her niece Miss [Lina] Duff Gordon is coming on the San Gimignano expedition.

Is sorry his mother did not get tickets for [Wagner's] Ring: 'it was not a thing to be missed'. If he had heard about it sooner, he would 'have wired for a seat in one of the sets', but fears it is too late now, and he will 'have to go to the gallery'. Is glad his father is well. His parents must go to see Mrs Ross next time they are in Florence. Mrs Ross says the cook will probably understand 'how much flour to put into the water [for the gnocchi]'.

Roundhurst, Haslemere:- Will 'certainly' come to Wallington on the 23rd, or whichever day his parents are starting there. So his father may understand why he was 'unwilling to come', will say 'frankly that for a Wagnerian to miss the Götterdämmerung when he has been looking forward to it for half a year is a serious disappointment': it is 'Wagner's supreme opera', but also 'the culminating point of the tetralogy, which has never before been done in succession in England'. In addition, the Ring 'never has been, and may never be again, conducted and acted so splendidly'.

His father therefore must not mind Robert being disappointed, and 'wishing that George had been able to come instead', but he would 'rather miss the whole cycle of the Ring' than have his parents think he 'put[s his] pleasures' before theirs.

King's Arms Hotel, Oxford. - Ideas for adaptations to be made [to "The Bride of Dionysus"], relating to the interaction of the Satyrs, Maenads, and Ariadne [in Act III]. Provides musical notation for one of the changes he wishes to make, and asks for new text from Trevelyan. Compares his projected new music with aspects of Wagner's "Siegfried".

The Hague. - Very sweet of Bob to send the flowers, though they have not yet arrived, and the 'dear' letter about them. Hopes the high wind drops before his crossing; will sympathise if it does not and he puts off travelling, but he must wire to let her know. Her uncle received Bob and his father's letters this morning; thinks everything will come right with the papers. Wrong of Bob 'not to trust a Dutch hatter'; she finds out 'more and more what an insular mind' he has; jokes that there is still time for her to change her mind about marrying him. Thinks her uncle has decided to give the wedding luncheon at the hotel; this does seem more convenient, though 'one nasty side' remains. There has been 'an absurd though rather nasty misunderstanding about the plan again' which she will tell him about later if necessary; her aunt is on her uncle's side as ever on the matter. Mr [Henry Yates] Thompson's presents sound very nice, particularly the Cambridge book. Hopes Bob enjoys "Tannhauser"; it is her least favourite of the music by Wagner she has heard. Would like to see at least some of the poetry he has been working on, and certainly his play. Bob says he sent her "Mallow and Asphodel" last summer; in fact he gave her his book in November when he had come on their 'Vondling expedition'; remembers the 'sweet confusion & doubt' they felt then, which has now become love. Finishes off the letter later, after going with her aunt to try on the wedding dress, which is 'very gorgeous & splendid'.

May try to come to Cambridge before the end of the month. Bessie went abroad on Thursday. C.A. [Clifford Allen] is much better, it will be some time until he and Joan can travel abroad. Joan has chicken-pox and is in quarantine. Does not know about the Waterfields: they have had a lot of paying guests at Aulla, until one, 'a young man from Oxford, suddenly lost his memory and more or less went mad, and is being looked after at Poggio [Gherardo] with nurses'. Expects the Waterfields will go to Aulla soon if the young man can be sent home, but then [their children] Johnny and Kinta will probably come out to visit. Had thought of arranging for the Allens to stay when Clifford is strong enough, but it is unclear when that would be. The Waterfields want him to visit, but he cannot go abroad until the building plans for the Shiffolds are settled, probably by August; may then go to Aulla for a while and on to the Berensons at Vallombrosa. Thinks Julian should write to Lina and ask if he could stay as a paying guest, though he should remember there is not as much space at Aulla as at Poggio, and if the Allens could go they should have preference. Currently here alone, but will go to London on Monday for [Wagner's] "Rheingold with the "Walkyrie [sic]" on Thursday. Desmond [MacCarthy] printed his epistle to him in the May "Life & Letters", but forgot to use the corrected proof, so there are '5 monstrous misprints'. Hopes Julian is finding some time to do some reading. Unsure whether he will be able to come to Cambridge next week. Asks when Julian's exams are, and how he likes Granville Barker's "Shakespeare"