Showing 81 results

Intended to send a small book of his "Translations from Leopardi", but then decided to wait until Julian and Ursula next come here, as they 'might easily lose it moving about'. Pity they cannot come now, when the flowers in the woods are at their best. All quite well here; the [Sturge] Moores will return in a month. Originally enclosing, on Bessie's request, a photograph of 'the street in Forest Green that [Julian] used to admire'. The Bluths and Tet Htoot were here at Easter, but otherwise they 'seem to see nobody'. Hopes that Tet Htoot will bring two Chinese friends to visit. A 'bad London raid last night'; hopes he and the Bluths are all right; Irene [Cooper Willis?] has fortunately been away. Has very few friends in London now besides these, Logan [Pearsall Smith] and Alys [Russell]. Virginia [Woolf]'s death 'a great blow'; she 'felt she was going out of her mind again and could not face it'. Is re-reading "To the Lighthouse", his favourite of her books; is writing something on her for the "Abinger Chronicle", but it is 'impossible to say anything adequate in the way of criticism'. Forgets whether Julian knew her. Is continuing to translate Montaigne and getting 'a little bored with it'; 'much more fun writing poetry, even if it is not worth much'. Hopes Julian has managed to see Ursula at Taunton, and that she is well again. Has heard from G.M.T. [his brother George] that Charles is giving Wallington to the National Trust now instead of leaving it in his will; he will continue to live there, and one of the family (probably his son George Lowthian) will stay there after his death; this will save on death-duties so there will be much more money for the children. Supposes this should not be discussed until it is announced. Hopes Bessie will go with Miss Simpkins for a few days to George and Janet next month; otherwise she never 'goes away from here, which is not good for her'.

Montepulciano (Prov. di Siena). - Thanks Trevelyan for his gift of [Woolf's] "Waves". Is here till tomorrow and saw Iris Origo last night; appreciates her all the more as he comes to know her; hopes to take Walker to stay with them for a few days. Heard 'the pathetic voice of Lloyd George' [on the radio?] a few days ago; did not think what he said 'first-rate' or 'accurate'. Asks where Julian is; was expecting to see him in October. Nicky [Mariano] said there is no water at I Tatti, but expects it will be better now due to recent heavy rain. Was amazed that Clifford A[llen] supported MacDonald [over the National Government]; asks for Trevelyan's opinion. Was in Arezzo recently for a commemoration of Petrarch; the foreigners he met there were 'all very gloomy'. Asks if Trevelyan has received the Baudelaire which Alberti says he has sent him.

Hotel Infant Isabel, Burgos. - Is very sorry to miss Trevelyan's friends [Francis] Birrell and [Raymond] Mortimer, whom he met at Lady Colefax's 'famous' garden party; it is, though, pleasant to be in B.B. [Berenson]'s 'train' and to be travelling through Spain to Seville and Granada. Will be home around November, so can meet Trevelyan at Cortona then; nobody will be at I Tatti until late December. Will be delighted to see Birrell and Mortimer if they are still in Italy when he returns. Has heard much from Nicky [Mariano] about Trevelyan, and is glad that Welcombe has been sold as planned. Will be very proud if Trevelyan does indeed address an epistle to him in hexameters. Has written an article on Du Bos, and has now been asked for another on Virginia W[oolf], for rather an important journal; proposes one on any new book she might be writing, asks for details and for the book to be sent when it appears. The Berensons seem to be getting on quite well: B.B. complaining a little about his health, and Mary about 'romanic art' [sic], which is a topic for discussion due to the book about Jerusalem she is writing. B.B. says the countryside is 'more desertic and arabic than Syria'. Has read Trevelyan's letter out to the company: they expect him at I Tatti when Mary and Nicky return in late December, though B.B. will stay with Mrs Wharton until New Year; thinks Ray and Karin and their families will also be at I Tatti.

Kings Coll. Camb. - Did not see how many votes Bertie [Russell] got [in the General Election of 15 Nov, where he stood for Labour in Chelsea] but he supposes not many; relates an anecdote told to him by Moorsom, who was at the announcement of the results. Phil Price [M. Philips Price?] did not get in, but he finds it amusing a communist got such support in an English county. Is consoled by the fact that the leading members of the UDC [Union of Democratic Control] have been returned, as has Jem Butler. The political opinions of his college bedmaker, who votes Tory. Brief discussion of [Woolf's] "Jacob's Room". Moorsome [sic] is attending psychology lectures.

Cortona, addressed to Trevelyan at Furzen Wood, Abinger Common, Dorking. - Has received Trevelyan's "Three Plays" and his letter. Does not think his subscription [to "Life and Letters"?] ought to end in February 1932, but in May or June; but they can discuss this and balance their budget when Trevelyan comes to Italy. Asks for V[irginia] Woolf's book ["The Waves"] to be sent if it has appeared, as he has promised to review it. The B.B.s [Berensons] both very well.

List of books on flyleaf, including [R.G.?] Collingwood's "An autobiography". Autobiographical fragment, including Trevelyan's childhood 'courting' of a girl at dancing class, friendships including two 'of an emotional, romantic kind' at Harrow, and thoughts on Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale". Translations: of first part of Sophocles' "Philoctetes"; the "Homeric Hymns to Pan, Dionysus, Aphrodite and Demeter; fragments of Greek New Comedy by Menander, Alexis and Philemon.

Book used from other end in: draft verse [translation?] on inside cover and flyleaf; list of possible topics under the heading "More Windfalls", including '[George?] Meredith', Reminiscences', '[Donald] Tovey'. Draft piece, "On losing one's bearings". Verse, 'Oh sea and shore, dearer to me than life...'. Ideas for "Less Simple Pleasures" under headings such as 'Literary', "Of Friendship', 'Of Walking'. Essay of pleasures of the senses. particularly touch. Piece about Horace and his friendships, perhaps as introduction for Trevelyan's two fictional dialogues about him, or part of the subsequent discussion of conversation. This mentions Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson, Roger Fry and Donald Tovey (Virginia Woolf and Lytton Strachey are also mentioned but Trevelyan then crosses this out)'; Henry Sidgwick, his father's friend, is mentioned as a 'perfect artist in conversation'. Discussion of philosophical dialogues. Biographical sketch of Thomas Sturge Moore. Piece on aging and desire. Notes on playing chess with Dickinson. Notes on Montaigne. Bertrand Russell and Bernard Shaw. Essay on the self, Buddhism, and change.

1490260 Gun. Luce, J. M., A Battery B Sub Section, 207 A.A. Trug. Ret. R.A., Devizes, Wiltshire. - Is happy to learn Trevelyan is 'emending Horace'; asks to see the 'iconoclastic epistle' if Joan [Allen?] does not mind. Thanks him for the offer of books. Has seen Desmond [MacCarthy's] article on Roger Fry's biography [by Virginia Woolf]. Agrees that [Dick?] Bosanquet's three most recent poems are most interesting, but none are as original as his first group. Has provided some criticism, at Bosanquet's request, and wishes Trevelyan would criticise his metrical form. Expects Joan has told Trevelyan something of his daily routine, which is fairly monotous, though enlivened by his 'Jesuit and musician friends'. Recently had scores of the Mozart operas sent, and they ran through "Don Giovanni"; next Saturday they will try "The Magic Flute". Sends love to Bessie, Ursula and Julian.

I Tatti, Settignano, Florence. - Thanks for the letter and the anthology of Bob's poetry. A pity that Desmond [MacCarthy] did not live to write about Bob. Has Forster's and Virginia Woolf's last books but has not yet read them: the number of periodicals he must read leaves little time for books. Nicky reads them to him but it is slow going; the current book is Iris Origo's biography of Leopardi. Julian must come and visit next time he is in Italy.

List of names ('T[homas] S[turge] M[oore], C[harles] T[revelyan?], Joan [Allen]') marked with circles and crosses, on inside cover [perhaps a distribution list?]. Draft verse, 'Tender is the night and clear...'. Notes for a talk on Leopardi, including translations. Second list of names ("Rose Macaulat, Mortimer, Moormans…) [distribution list?]. Biographical sketch on Donald Tovey, covering topics such as his habits, methods of composing for "The Bride of Dionysus", other operatic projects of Tovey, his thoughts on literature and sense of humour. Last section. of Trevelyan's essay on "Courage". List of names ('Voltaire? Goethe? Gladstone? Dizzy?'); perhaps a list of possibilities to be included in a piece, especially as it is followed by a conversation between Horace and Thersites. Dialogue between 'Hic' and 'Ille' [unfinished]. List of topics under the heading 'What I believe'. "On Kindness". "On Translating Montaigne". "Disinterestedness". Piece on Chinese poetry. Extract from "Simple Pleasures".

Book also used from other end in: rough notes and calculations on inside cover and first page, including a reference to Virginia Woolf's posthumous collection "Death of a Moth"; translation of Horace's "Ars Poetica" from line 445; nature notes; notes on Roger Fry, including comments on Augustus Daniel, Charles Ricketts etc; essay on a conversation with [Bernard] Berenson ["A Lost Talk"]; notes on Clifford Allen; "Lost Things"; "On Books" and other pieces.

Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum, London, W.C.1 - Thanks Bob for [his translations of] "Theocritus", the letter about "[The Tale of] Genji" - the errata have now been incorporated into a second, US-only printing, as the 'demand is far greater than here - and his 'little book about the future of poetry ["Thamyris"].' Likes the [Theocritus] epigrams 'very much', but thinks the meter Bob uses for the "Idylls" goes 'too slowly'; however, the 'best judges' do not agree with him and he is probably 'eccentric' about this. Thinks that in the pamphlet ["Thamyris"] Bob does not discuss the things he himself sees as 'straws showing which way the wind will blow': sees 'European poetry' as a whole, with it being impossible only to discuss English, and believes that '[m]odern French poetry (Apollinaire, Reverdy, Tzara even) indicates what is going to happen as regards outward forms'. Regarding Oswald [Sickert's] writings, he himself does not know the Woolfs, 'save for one or two casual meetings'.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Very glad she liked the 'Broadcast on T. E. [Lawrence]', which has been 'successful, as my utterances go' and he had 'fan mail' waiting on his return from Norfolk. Had a 'pleasant time' there, partly with the Kennets and partly with the Sprotts; the first part being '"tough" - bathin', sailin' and so on', which he 'quite enjoyed, and the second 'more archaeological'. Saw Binham Abbey; 'the strange modern rival goings on at Walsingham'; Houghton [Hall], built by Sir Robert Walpole, over which the 'present nobb [?] owner [George, 5th Marquess of Cholmondeley]' showed them for five shillings each; and Felbrigg Hall, owned by a 'fat young acquaintance' of Forster, Robert Windham Ketton-Cremer so therefore seen for nothing. Got 'so enthusiastic' over sightseeing, that in London he took his Baedeker and 'went round the Royal Tombs in Westminster Abbey'.

Is now at home, 'seeing that the outside of the house gets painted'; asks her to let him know when she returns. Will be 'pleased to make young George's [son of Sir Charles Trevelyan?] acquaintance'; he had been visiting the Kennets and Lady Kennet' was very much on to him as she is to all young and personable men. I don't think she does them much good!'

Expects she is still in the north, but will send this to The Shiffolds since 'it contains nothing of importance except my love'. Is here until Friday, when he is going away for a weekend with the Woolfs; not a good time to go, as he is 'so irritated and bored by Virginia's Three Guineas that I don't know what to do. Such an endless ill-tempered prate, and so badly-written in the true sense of writing. She wants a pill [?] she do'. However, is sure he will be 'charmed and captivated' when he sees her.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Will try to ring up on Friday or Saturday to see how the visit to Whiting [see also 3/167] has gone. Is going to Knole for the weekend [to see Eddy Sackville-West?]. Encloses his article and one on him. The committee meeting [NCCL?] was 'interesting and polite', Virginia's play ["Freshwater", by Virginia Woolf"] 'interesting and funny', "[The Marriage of] Figaro" 'funny and polite. Bob Buckingham came with him to "Figaro". Forster's mother seems well.

The University of Rochester, College of Arts and Science, Rochester, New York, Biological Laboratories. - Hopes that Trevelyan won't mind that she discussed his poem "The Dream", with Arthur Waley's 'Chinese allegory', in a talk she had to give on "Personal Philosophies in a World at War". Two Professors for the English Department have borrowed the poem. Looks forward very much to receiving Trevelyan's "Translations from Leopardi" and will send Salvemini his copy. Mona Gooden writes how much she enjoyed it, and she herself is 'like one of Pavlov's dogs'. Discusses the Waleys: has never met Stephen, though heard a lot about him from Gordon; met Ruth and Sigi once, but now knows them well through correspondence; she and Sam are very fond of Oliver, at the University of Rochester, who cheers Luce up when she is anxious about Gordon. On 21 Feb Luce is thrilled that the copies of "Leopardi" have arrived. If Forster's lecture on Virginia [Woolf] is published she would very much like to see it. Thoughts on the war.

British Museum, W. C. - Neither Mrs [Marie] Stopes nor [Ezra] Pound know Japanese, so he 'refuse[s] to be put in the same category'. Mrs Stopes 'talks a little colloquial' but there is 'abundant evidence' that the translations in her work were 'done by her Japanese collaborator [Jōji Sakurai]'. Has not met her, but 'you can tell exactly what she is like from reading her book'; Pound 'knows and dislikes her, which is on the whole in her favour'. Nothing happening about the publication of his poems: Squire has not yet 'moved' about putting some in the "New Statesman". Sent a copy of the '"reprint"' to Ka Cox suggesting it might give Constable [& Co, publishers] a 'less tedious impression than typescript', but has not heard from her. Sent a copy to [Bertrand?] Russell, who was 'very kind about it', as were 'Leonard [Woolf] and his wife, who want to print some, & shall - failing everything else'. Is keenest that people should be led to share his conviction that Po Chu-I is 'one of the great poets of the world', but 'perhaps one cannot prove it by 38 translations'. Believes that the 'Opposition consists... of the Stracheys & Alix [Sargant-Florence?], who will not read them till I do them in Popian couplets, with long 's's, bound in calf'. Does agree with them that 'Pope is the only readable translator of Homer'. Also sent his book to [Gordon] Bottomley.

Garricks Villa. - Is getting well at last: 'Med B' [?] probably saved him from pneumonia. Liked Trevelyan's piece on the 'Bell of St Peter's', and his note on Virginia [Woolf]. Very sorry that Trevelyan's "Collected Poems" have 'perished' [when Longman's stock was destroyed in the Blitz] and is glad he has a copy; would also like a reprint. [Trevelyan's translation of] Leopardi has come. Would like to visit this month.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Is ‘all right again’; only did not go to the Wednesday concert in Dorking as he was ‘hearing music in London instead’. As soon as ‘the air stops being like ice and the ground like glass’, hopes to visit, but ‘even the blackbirds can’t stand up when they walk to a crumb, so what help is there for humans?’.

Has been much enjoying ‘the Berenson poem in the Abinger Chronicle [Vol. 1. No. 2. To Bernhard Berenson; it is ‘not as good as the Goldie [Dickinson] one, but Berenson is not as good as Goldie, and within the limits he imposes Bob has turned out a very lovely and moving tribute to civilisation’. Has been reading a book about M[atthew] Arnold by ‘an America, called Trilling’; does not think he ‘has much feeling for poetry, but he is very good otherwise’, and gives Forster ‘surer ground’ for his admiration of Arnold.

Has ‘also read Elizabeth [von Arnim]’s frothy new novel Mr Skeffington’; it ‘has a touching denouement and was not badly built, and might have been good if she hadn’t such a frilly undi-fied [? undignified] mind. Has also read [Pope’s] Dunciad. Remembers Evelina [the book by Fanny Burney?]as ‘rather too little of a good thing’. His ‘trousers caught on fire at the Woolfs, and the house caught on fire at the Bells, but neither fatally’ and he much enjoyed himself. ‘Clive Bell is a charming host’.

86 Chesterton Road, Cambridge. - He and Dorothy were very sorry to hear of Molly MacCarthy's death: they had found her charming when she stayed with them for two days in July. She wrote to them that she was very ill and did not really wish to live, but they did not hear the news until Michael MacCarthy came to tell them about the funeral as they take the "Manchester Guardian", which did not report it, not the "Times". She made the decisions about Desmond's grave when she came, and composed the inscription; the Moores saw the tomb when it was finished and wrote to tell Molly it was just as she wished. Molly's hearing seemed much better on her visit: Moore supposes she had a better hearing aid. Michael brought his wife and daughter: the little girl seemed very attractive; he and Dorothy were struck by how like his father Michael was. Mary Fletcher had written to let him know she was relieved she did not need to have any operations or other hospital treatment; was glad to hear from Bessie that she was a little better now. Is sorry that he forgot the date of her birthday so was unable to reciprocate for the eightieth birthday telegram she sent him. Has read Virginia Woolf's diary: does not quite agree that she was more affected by bad reviews that she should have been, in fact had rather the opposite impression. Never saw much of her but 'always admired her greatly' and the diary left him 'admiring her as much as ever'. Neither he and Dorothy were able to make much of "To the Lighthouse" and "The Waves", but the library made him think he should try again. Enjoyed the "Common Reader" very much.

Thanks Trevelyan for the books; has read some of them on a holiday in Upper Egypt. Liked Joyce ["Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"?] and Eliot ["Prufrock and Other Observations"?] very much; enjoyed Virginia's story but not Woolf's [""The Mark on the Wall" and "Three Jews", published by the Woolfs as "Two Stories"]; liked Choke-off [a pun on Chekhov?]. He also liked Trevelyan's work: 'not as much as some of your things', but Mrs Borchgrevink enjoyed them. Will send a cheque; if there is really a surplus asks Trevelyan to send some more new books, though nothing by Jules Romains or Norman Douglas as he has read them. Teases him for not recognising 'the Salzerdromes' as a reference to his own "Pterodamozels" [see 3/33] but is glad the play reached him anyway. Wishes he could write himself; has managed nothing but a few articles 'for the worse of the two English papers here'. Says he is annoyed with Allenby for not providing him with work [by winning victories to write about]. Jokes about Bedouins laying eggs. Is glad Julian likes school.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thought she 'had had enough' of his pamphlet [Nordic Twilight, published as a Macmillan War Pamphlet], but 'here it is again. Also Virginia's letter - a very nice one, still, it ought to have been, no wonder she was pleased'. He and 'the people in the rich car' did not discover 'who anyone was'; they were going to Mr Harrison's at the Hatch, and 'most civilly offered' to send him on in the car alone, but he continued on foot.

Yesterday he 'achieved London', seeing his relatives in Putney and going on to Chiswick where his 'flat was still standing, and indeed, intact except for one smashed window, which Bob Buckingham has already got boarded up'. They 'watched what is drearily known as a 'dog-fight' through the un-smashed windows' before he returned home 'via Hammersmith Earl's Court Wimbledon Motspur Park and Dorking'.

Was very nice seeing her; sends much love to her and to Bob, to whom he will write when he returns his poem. Adds postscript: he does not 'want May [? or Mag?] back'.

Monk's House, Rodmell, near Lewes, Sussex. - He and Virginia enjoyed Bob's "Epistle [to Joan Allen]" very much, finding both form and content 'refreshing' in 'these days of confused bitterness'; his translations [of Horace, Juvenal and Montaigne] and two ["Imaginary] conversations" were equally, perhaps even more, refreshing. Had by coincidence been reading Horace's "Satires": reads the classics in bed before getting up in the morning, and usually chooses Greek, but this time thought he would try Horace. Enjoyed it more than he expected, as he remembered being 'bored by Horace's hexameters'.

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Looking forward very much to seeing Robert on 12 May. Has been reading Robert's 'Wolff poems' [his "Poems and Fables", printed by Leonard and Virginia Woolf] 'leisurely and very sympathetically' and looks forward to reading them often again; mentions "The Winter Sunset", "Sleep", and "Happiness" as those which most interested him.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Thanks Bessie for her 'kind letter'; meant to ring, but has been in bed for the last three days with a cough and cold. Is now better and out of bed. Expects to stay with the Bells at Charleston at the beginning of May. Clive says there is 'little "private news" [about Virginia Woolf's suicide], except that she was threatened by a return (it would have been the fifth) of her terrible illness. Understandably, she could not bear the prospect'. Leonard is 'as always reasonable and stoical', and so far Vanessa has not 'broken down' as she did at [her son] Julian's death. He himself has of course been 'much upset', and her sympathy is welcome; he 'found it so repulsive to get letters and telegrams from no less than six newspapers wanting me to do articles at once'.

Had meant to write on a happier subject: his 'delightful call upon G. M. T[revelyan, recently appointed Master] at Trinity', who was very pleased with [the Master's Lodge] 'and all sorts of improvements were in full swing'. Had 'the kindest of greetings'. Asks why Bessie doesn't pay them a visit.

Everyone in his house has colds; Florence [Barger] is 'nursing hers with special care, as she goes to Manchester on Tuesday'. Sends love to Bessie and Bob. Adds postscript: saw May Dickinson and her sister Hettie Lowes at Cambridge, and Sheppard 'as usual'.