Showing 10 results

Gazeley, Trumpington. - Good that they can go ahead with the selection [of poems]; the drawing and Max [Beerbohm]'s letter are a 'great addition'. Not likely now that they will be able to get the book published for Christmas, but they will see what MacGibbon says [R.C. Trevelyan, "Selected Poems", with a drawing and introductory letter by Max Beerbohm, was published by MacGibbon & Kee in 1953]. It is the October 1941 number of the "Abinger Chronicle" which has the drawing in; will send it back as soon as possible. They are all well and busy; Molly sends much love.

Robin Ghyll, Langdale, Ambleside [on headed notepaper from the Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge]. - News about Bessie's grandson is 'really glorious'; expects that if he is dark he will be like his mother [Ursula], with 'just a general background perhaps of Trevelyan blackness'. She and George think the name 'splendid'; wonder why 'Philip' was chosen, and whether it is a 'general reminiscence' of the Philips inheritance which would 'amuse Aunt Annie'. The Trevelyans are 'doing well' for grandchildren at the moment, with Thomas Arnold [Humphry and Molly's son] and also Marjorie and Patricia's children; thinks there are currently 'a round dozen', counting Kitty's three, then Patricia's next is expected at Christmas. Thinks young mothers are very 'brave' now, to come out of hospital after only ten days, then only have a nurse for three weeks; she herself 'recovered so slowly' after Mary was born that she cannot imagine how she would have coped with the baby on her own. True that the child is 'much more neglected nowadays... popped in the pram and left to sleep out for hours in all weathers'. Thinks that 'Humphry's Molly's' two eldest 'did suffer from it' but are recovering now, though the second still has trouble with consonants at over three and a half; Janet suspects this may be 'a result of early shock from cold', and remembers having to speak privately to the doctor to 'make him speak to Molly'. She and George are spending time Robin Ghyll; have not been there together since June 1939; it is 'wonderful, as always' but though the weather in the south has been 'scorching', they have had heavy rain. George went back to Cambridge on college business a fortnight ago and brought their cook with him on his return; she is a 'nice adventurous person, and loves coming out on the fells' with them, but even George is 'content with short walks now' and they 'feel quite proud' when they walk over to take tea with Nelly Rawnsley.

Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thanks Bessie for the congratulations on her C.H. [Companion of Honour]; also felt 'most honoured' by Bob's letter to George; pleased that her name will not change and she will stay 'plain Mrs G.M.T.'. The family do seem to be 'scooping things up recently, including Humphry's adorable bride', who is due to arrive with him in London tomorrow. They are coming to Cambridge on Tuesday, and Janet is holding a tea party for her: enclosure about it originally enclosed; wishes Bessie could be there. Otherwise the young couple will have to 'make a pilgrimage' to see her at the Shiffolds sometime this year, though she thinks they mean to go to Germany in November: Humphry feels he should spend almost a year living there 'and really soak in Goethe and the language'; she hopes 'Mr Hitler will keep quiet'. Janet much enjoyed their time in the US, even in New York, where she got the Parks Commissioner to send her round 'all the wonderful playgrounds & swimming pools' they have built using 'Roosevelt's Relief money'; made her 'pine for a Roosevelt touch here'. Notes in a postscript that her health was good in the US. with 'no violent heat-waves'; [her eczema] is 'threatening' again now but she is coping.

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks 'Auntie Bess' for her 'jolly letter', which went up to Hallington in the letter to 'Mummy T' [Janet]. Agrees with Mr Badley now her two boys have been born, but would have been happy with a boy and a girl as providing a brother for Tommy. The government has gave her 120 pre-natal coupons, and she now has [ration] books for both twins. G[eorge] and H[umphry] look very different from each other; she is alternating their feeds, with the nurse bottle-feeding in between, and the doctor is pleased with them. Has had a long rest in Cambridge, having left the rest of the family behind; will be very glad to return, after almost eight weeks. Hopes all the Trevelyan cousins will meet one day: Tom, Philip and the twins could have 'great gambols together'; wonders how soon they will 'all forgather at Wallington of a summer', as their fathers did. Bessie must find it an 'eternal joy' to have Philip with her; hopes the Bluths will have some pictures of him.

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for sending his 'usual Christmas present "From the Shiffolds"'. Is going up to Hallington for Christmas and New Year tomorrow night, after the Entrance Scholarship Election meetings; Humphry, Molly, and their five children will be there, though not Janet as 'the northern winter is not very good for her'. She has generally 'kept fairly well this term', however. Hopes to have his "Autobiography and other Essays" out in May, and will send Bob a copy; this will probably be the last new book' he ever brings out. Has been re-reading [Frederic] Maitland's "Life [and Letters] of Leslie Stephen"; perhaps the first chapters are 'rather dull', but then he believes it 'one of the very best biographies' in English.

The Bothy, Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Glos. - Received Trevelyan's 'lovely Christmas present' ["From the Shiffolds"] on Saturday when about to go on a short journey; wanted to take the booklet with him but his wife thought it was 'too precious'; apologises for the resulting 'uncivil delay' for thanks, as he wanted to read the poems before replying. Loves the 'warmth and wisdom' in all Trevelyan's poems; lists some which he 'adore[s]'. Will always be reminded of the evening when Trevelyan read some of them to him and they 'went on accompanying one another to our bedrooms, like schoolboys'. Read some of the 'delightful' essays in "Windfalls" recently, which he bought as a friend's birthday present after finding it in an 'amazing little bookshop... in this village; they have all the best things and read them'. Read an excellent notice on Julian's exhibition [at the Lefevre Gallery] and wishes he could have seen it; is 'too cowardly to go to London yet', and hopes Trevelyan has not been 'troubled by bombs or rockets'. Met Humphry Trevelyan and his 'charming wife' and fancies he has 'made friends with them'. Hopes to see Trevelyan again some time and meet his wife; his own wife also loves the poems.

The Master's Lodge, Trinity College, Cambridge. - Two twin grandsons born at the Lodge yesterday: George Macaulay and Humphry Bennett; they and Molly are doing very well. George and Janet are going to stay in the gardener's cottage at Hallington 'as usual in war time' tomorrow. Hopes they will see Bob in Cambridge this summer.

Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for his "Horace" ["Translations from Horace, Juvenal and Montaigne: with two imaginary conversations"]: liked the two dialogues at the end best; glad that Bob's idea of Horace matches his own. Asks if Bob has read John Buchan's biography of Augustus, which he thinks 'so good if true, and the ancient historians say it is true and accurate'. Is going to Wallington for a week at Christmas, since Hallington is occupied by the R.A.F., while Janet visits Humphry and Mary. Then they have a 'hectic fortnight' moving into the Lodge [at Trinity], where the workmen are currently very busy: 'If Hitler doesn't put in a bomb, it will... look better inside than it has looked for many a long year'.

Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - The "Abinger Chronicle" is 'quite delightful'; V.W.'s piece [Ralph Vaughan Williams "Local Musicians", Vol 1. No 3] was 'first class and so characteristic of him'. Sends on a magazine he has received with a review of Bob's ["Collected"?] works. He and Janet are going to Hallington for a fortnight on Thursday. Molly [and Humphry]'s new baby, Mary Harriet, 'seems quite a success'.

23 West Road, Cambridge. - Sorry to hear that Bessie has been ill again; Janet 'keeps much the same from day to day'. Interested and pleased by the letter Bessie quoted from her German friend; has instructed Longmans to send a copy of his "Autobiography and other essays" to Bessie for her. Glad Humphry and Molly are going to see her.