Showing 15 results

West Melville, Northam, N. Devon. - Has been looking at the Christmas books Bob has sent them between 1944 and 1947 ["From the Shiffolds"]: feels sure they 'contain some of the best' of Bob's work, and is 'very glad indeed to have them'. It is a 'partial relief... to turn to poetry from the tremendous and shattering events' of the time, of which 'many people seem so unaware'. Thinks the world is at a crisis, but is 'not without hope'; has just read Jung's latest book of essays, "On Contemporary Events", which he is sure would interest Bob. Jung has a 'wide and deep vision'; believes he is right that 'the best we can do is to look for The Shadow in ourselves', though it is very 'easy to project it onto others'. Would like Bob to listen to his wireless talk on the [BBC] Third Programme on 17 January, about the books of Karen Blixen. She knows 'in her own intuitive manner almost as much about life, both conscious and unconscious, as does Jung by other methods'; he believes she is a 'genius', and no longer hesitates to 'make extravagant claims for her'.

Is envying Bob's classical scholarship particularly at the moment: has always wanted to write a novel about the first century and is now beginning work on it. Plans to 'start on Appolonia [sic'] before moving scene to Cyprus, Palestine, and the West African Coast, so will have to do 'quite a lot of reading' on background, geography, politics, and 'the relatedness of ideas, Neo-Platonism, Gnosticism, and Hebrew sects, with perhaps influence from Egypt coming in'. Bob will think him 'a very rash man, and ignorant to be so rash'; wishes he could 'drop in' for a talk with him. Sends best wishes to both Trevelyans.

West Melville, Northam, Devon. - Very pleased to receive Bob's 'Christmas greeting of poems' [this year's "From the Shiffolds"]: the translations makes him wish he knew more of the authors; regrets his 'lack of a Classical education' more often as he gets older. The 'smattering of science' he gathered at Cambridge was enough to 'awaken [him] to the limitations of the scientific approach'; is sure Bob's translations give the 'right feeling'. Will have them 'bound up with the other two one day'. Hopes all well with Bob and Bessie. He and Katharine are in their new home: they 'sold the Torrington house quite well', then he 'dared greatly and bought an old and lovely and enormous house' at Northam, with two acres of grounds surrounded by a 'high stone wall', which had not sold at auction. Has divided the house in two, sold one half, and got their half and most of the 'lovely old garden' for around one and a half thousand pounds, not dear for today's prices. The rooms are large and beautiful, and the house near both Bideford and the sea. His autobiography ["But to What Purpose"] has been held up at the binders again, but he is assured it will be out on 14 January. Has in fact written two books after it, and is just starting another; did 'little but foreman's work' during the alterations to the house, and 'enjoyed it'. Hopes to stay at Peaslake in February [see also 18/67?], and would like to visit the Trevelyans. Sends Christmas and New Year's best wishes.

West Melville, Northam, Devon. - Thanks Bob for his poens [this year's "From the Shiffolds"], particularly the poem to Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]. Likes the 'questioning in them all, and what seems to be the answer in the translation of Menander 550', which is of course 'vague'. Feels himself that it is a mistake to look for 'a goal to be fulfilled in this time-space we live in', and that 'Good and evil are always about balanced', so that it is not possible to 'build the kingdom of Justice and happiness'; is tempted to write an essay on injustice being 'the inevitable fate of man'. Thinks he must come and stay at Peaslake in the spring, and visit Bob and Bessie, so they can discuss all this. He and Katharine are living quietly, and like their home. Is finding things difficult financially since his books are 'held up so long in the publishing process': was meant to have two books out this year, now one will appear in January, and he only has a date of 'the autumn' for the other. Is now trying to write a 'very long and ambitious novel' about the first century, doing lots of 'interesting reading'. Thinks he will take the first six lines of Bob's Menander translation as his epigraph, with the theme being 'Lux, post has tenebras: tunc omnibus omne patebit" [After these shadows, light: then everything will be revealed to all (Latin)]. Finds life very interesting, and hopes that as in the story of Lot there 'may be enough for us to escape the fate of Sodom'; even if not, believes 'Life is always victorious' eventually.

West Melville, Northam, Devon. - Thanks Bob for the 'truly lovely book' ["Translations from Latin Poetry"?]. Enjoys the 'pictures of life' in it, and comments on 'how fresh that past seems to our ageing present!'. Thinks he has mentioned that he has also tried to 'live in that distant time': his book is finished and he has sent it to Constables to see if they will publish. Had a 'very friendly and favourable recommendation' from Helen Waddell - expects Bob knows her, or at least her work. Bob knows he is not a classical scholar, but he has been reading about the first century for the last two years and 'lived [himself] a little way into it'. Quotes approvingly from Bob's translation of Catullus [4: "Phaselus ille..."]. Wishes he could see Bob and hear him read, but the distance between them is 'so far'. Hopes to be in London in September, or perhaps November, and will see if he can visit then. Hopes Bob and Bessie are 'as well as we ageing creatures can hope to be'. Still enjoys bathing, and finds he feels 'young again, if only for a few minutes' when swimming. Katharine has had a 'bad summer and spring', with tonsillitis leading to a 'long operation' from which she is only slowly recovering; she gets 'very depressed at times'. Would like to take her somewhere for a change, but hotels are busy, so in October they hope to go to Cornwall; meanwhile Katharine might spend some time at her sister's flat in Hampstead. Thanks Bob again for the book which will take him 'far from this troublous age.

West Melville, Northam, Devon. - Very pleased to get Bob's book of poems and to find some he did not know; good to have the ones he does know together, especially 'in this new form so easily adapted to the pocket'. Wishes he could come and see Bob and Bessie, but visits are not easy at the moment: 'Even though one carries a nosebag' [i.e. takes food rations] the demand on one's host's hospitality is 'not easy to meet;. Would love to 'stroll' with Bob on his terrace and talk. May manage to get to London in autumn, and hopes then to visit Raisley [Moorsom?] and his family. Wonders whether Bob has seen his autobiography, "But To What Purpose"; thinks it would interest him, though he may think he has been 'too severe on Bedales'. Learned a 'great deal' from writing it; may perhaps have 'more to learn'.

He and Katharine very much like their new home, which is 'the half of a beautiful old house', with 'the most lovely garden'; regrets that that is a 'very expensive item', and he finds it difficult not to work too hard there. Has 'slipped somehow, rather unwillingly, into [radio] broadcasts', and is about to record two 'Empire broadcasts' in the "Men and Book" series, one on Melville and the other on Conrad. Will take a 'very different approach from the fellow who talked on these two the other night on the Third Programme [William Plomer?]' They have just come back from a conference at Birmingham, having heard some interesting papers and discussions, particularly the papers by Wilson Knight on "Imagination" and [William?] Chaning Pearce on "Existentialism and Christianity". Wilson Knight's lecture was a 'masterpiece of extemporary speaking'; expects Bob knows "The Wheel of Fire" and "The Imperial Theme", Knight's writings on Shakespeare, and recommends them if he does not. Love to the Trevelyans from both Grant Watsons.

88 New Street, Torrington. - Likes Bob's new book of poetry; they 'seem to come so sincerely from the inner man'. Has just returned from a fortnight in St Bartholomew's hospital, where he had his appendix removed and a hernia dealt with; has been troubled by his appendix for 'years'. Finds himself 'most annoyingly weak... What a business this growing old is'. Hopes his mind has 'remained young', but he is 'nearly edentate' and needs spectacles. They are now in their new home in Torringtonm which is their first town house for a long time; it is something to have the 'compensations' of electric light and gas.

Little Hawsted, Kiln Lane, Headington Quarry, Oxford. - Very pleased to have Trevelyan's 'little volume'; apologises for not replying sooner, since they have been 'a bit snowed under with no domestic help' and his Land Army girl only coming in the afternoon; the cold makes more work outside, with 'frozen goat buckets & such like', and the goats 'prefer their greenfood [sic] to be melted in the kitchen'. Despite all the time spent on Greek and Latin at school, he 'never got really familiar with them'; he is 'turning to the "Aeneid" again', after reading [Maurice] Bowra's 'book on the epic ["From Virgil to Milton"]'; with which Trevelyan's 'reference to V[irgil]'s dying wishes clicked'. Is reading Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]'s "Modern Symposium" aloud to Margaret; it 'does mean well'; hopes it is 'being read by the present generation & by the many visitors [they] have been having'. They are going next week to Dartington to 'make music with Imogen Holst & her party'; would like to visit Peter [Grant] Watson while there but fears it might be difficult as they do not have a car yet.

11 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, W.C.2. - Thinks that Mr [Peter?] Grant-Watson is coming to stay for a week with Mrs Anderson at Peaslake, and hears it would be a 'great pleasure' to both if she could bring them to see the Trevelyans. Understands Mr Grant-Watson is a friend of the Trevelyans, and Mrs Anderson is a 'great admirer' of Trevelyan's poetry; asks him to send a postcard to Fourways, Gomshall, Surrey, where she will be all next week, if the visit will be convenient. Knows that a 'visitation of 4 people' - those named, herself and her 'friend & driver Mrs Gabriel' will have 'implications' in 'these days of rationing'; asks whether they may bring their rations of tea and milk if they come in the afternoon. Would be a 'great pleasure' to see the Trevelyans again, and to thank him for his Christmas poems ["From the Shiffolds"] in person which have been a 'delight'. Has had a message from the India Office saying that [her husband] Fred arrived in Tunis yesterday [on his way to India for the Cabinet Mission on Indian independence?]; he 'went off full of serenity [?] & optimism'.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Asks Trevelyan to date the enclosed [perhaps letters from or to Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, whose biography Forster was writing] and return them; thinks the Jubilee was that of 1897 rather than 1887. Much enjoyed the visit. Florence [Barger?] has now left. Does not want the Békássy poem back; perhaps Grant Watson might like it.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - All well here; there was fine weather for the Exhibition, though he 'found it rather tiring' and went home soon. His leg is getting better, and he needs a smaller bandage now. The house is 'full of children, rather noisy sometimes', but they are well behaved and 'very charming'. Elizabeth [Kitty's daughter] is 'a nice and interesting girl'. Encloses a 'nice letter' from Kenneth Hopkins, and one from Peter Grant Watson, which he asks Bessie to keep for him. Hopes to arrive at Ockley on the 5.03 train from Victoria; if his train into Kings Cross is late, McEvoy will have to wait until the next train at 5.30.

Laity Water, Torrington. - Has read Bob's essays ["Windfalls"], and thinks 'this kind of communication of gentle thoughts is a useful contribution in a force-ruled world'; those on literary subjects appeal most to him. Would like to have Bob's opinion on S. V. Benét's "John Brown's Body', about the American civil war. Thinks Benét may be 'better than Browning', as he 'never wilts as Browning wilts', and that only Yeats can better him. Returns Bob's book as requested, but would 'much appreciate' a copy when the second edition comes out. His autobiography ["But to What Purpose"] will be published in the spring. Has 'two books waiting for paper', and two others due to be reprinted, so things are 'looking up'. They are trying to sell this house and buy another, which is 'tiresome'; will be very glad to have it settled. Hopes he will be staying with his cousin Mrs Donkin in the autumn, and will try to visit Bob then.

Laity Water, Torrington. - Thanks Bob for sending a second copy [of "From the Shiffolds", see 17/203]; has two friends he wants to lend it to 'in succession'. Bob is right to say it is a 'difficult time to feel creative in'; human live is a 'frightful and appauling [sic] prospect'. Asks if Bob has seen a book he recently read which 'throws a little light': "The Fear of Freedom" by Elrich [sic: Erich] Fromm, which he discusses in detail. It shows that 'the sado-masochistic symbiosis... is not only peculiar to Germans, but is lurking in all of us' and that 'further repression is not the cure for people who have lost their power to spontaneous action'; finds it most interesting that 'the Germans themselves have anticipated and lamented over the course of their national development', such as Holderlin, Heine and Nietzche; feels that 'super-human daimons are stirring, and like Saturn are devouring their own children'; asks Bob if he knows Rubens' picture on that theme. However, 'poets still write', and he often finds that old poems 'retain all the wonder' they had in his youth; thinks Meredith and Whitman 'just as charged with wisdom as ever they did', and that there are 'ways of real emancipation' for individuals. Would much like to see Bob's essays ["Windfalls"], and thanks him for offering to send them. Is sending the book to which his "The Leaves Return" is a sequel.

Laity Water, Torrington. - Asks whether Bob could send him an extra copy of the booklet of poems he sent at Christmas ["From the Shiffolds"], as he would like to lend it to friends but his own copy is 'too precious to part with'. Has taken a title for his new book, which should appear in the autumn, from one of Bob's poems, "The Leaves Return", and would like to quote some lines as an epigraph. Wonders whether Bob has read Leismann [sic: Leishman]'s translation of some of Rilke's poems; Rilke 'must have been a most exceptional man, and seems to be writing in [a] new medium' or, as a friend says, is 'writing from the region after death'. Finds his poetry 'wonderfully interesting and stimulating'. He has been 'more crocked up' than he expected by his illness; is not currently working and therefore 'rather at a loss'; supposes it is necessary to 'accept periods of inactivity' as one gets older as well as other things; often thinks of Hardy's "A Wasted Illness". Asks whether Bob has read [L. H.] Myers' book "The Near and the Far"; it is 'far to[o] long and very shapeless', but he thinks it 'very good indeed in parts', and the kind which might appeal to Bob. It deals with the 'very burning question of the authoritarian attitude and opposing attitude of freedom', and though it was written 'before all the present and impending problems were fairly upon us', he thinks it 'discovered the essential conflict within the individual'. Myers is a 'most interesting writer'; does not think the 'pseudo-Indian atmosphere' of the story's setting need hinder appreciation.

Laity Water, Torrington. - Thanks Bob for his 'Christmas card' ["From the Shiffolds"]; does not know which poem he likes best as they are all 'so good, so true, and so amusing'; thinks it is a 'noble achievement to be able to write towards the end of life; "Yet the sorrow vanishes, the joy endures"'. Likes "Maya" very much, and is sure Goldie [Lowes Dickinson] would have too. Wonders if he and Bob will meet again, though feels 'this is [emphasised] a meeting' and is 'grateful for such a warm gift of friendship'. Knows Bob will be as 'heart-sick' as he is by the war; finds this phase, which he hopes is the last, 'particularly trying' as he can 'feel all the bad feelings that are stirring', so it is all the more joyful to have Bob's poems 'so clear and limpid and simple in their wisdom. Sends love to him and Bessie, and best wishes 'for what remains' of their lives; they are 'all getting old', and he himself 'almost died about three months ago'. Was glad that he was 'quite impersonal about the ordeal'; was saved by the 'miracles of modern surgery' and he is waiting to see whether he needs another operation. Had just finished writing his autobiography ["But to What Purpose?"] when he was taken ill, and hopes Bob will see it one day; his agent's reader seems 'very pleased with it' and thinks it innovative. Is still writing, but regrets that his 'days of tree-felling and digging are over'. He 'fret[s]' a little at being so 'helpless', and the house is too big for them now their daughters are away. Will not tell him about Bridget, as Katharine says she has written about this to Bessie; Bob will hear 'what a good friend Justin Brooks has been to her and us'. Thanks Bob again for the poems; is not slighting the earlier work when he says these are among Bob's 'very best'.

Little Hawsted, Kiln Lane, Quarry, Oxford. - Trevelyan's Christmas card ["From the Shiffolds"] gave them 'great pleasure'; is glad to know Trevelyan has a grandson 'named after my beloved Erasmus'. Heard from Peter Grant Watson on the same day, who 'with Greece very much on his mind' quoted from Clough's "Amours de Voyage". Peter has been ill with appendicitis, but is 'mending'. He himself had not read Clough for years, and has been 'held by him all this afternoon!'.