Showing 7 results

Monk's House, Rodmell, Lewes. - Returns Percy Lubbock ["Earlham", see 17/88] with thanks. Cannot make out why 'in spite of every appearance to the contrary' and Logan [Pearsall Smith?]'s recommendation, she thinks it 'a thoroughly bad book'. Percy is 'obviously intelligent, scrupulous [a long list of his virtues follows]' and his style is 'by no means despicable [another list of virtues follows]'. Suspects there is 'something hopelessly prosaic, timid, tepid, in his goal. The spirit of Earlham is undoubtedly the family butler'; detects a 'conspiracy to misrepresent the human soul in the interests of respectability and... of the defunct Henry James' and wonders why Percy, 'who is comparatively young' has ended it; it makes her 'long for glaring suburbs, brass bands - Brighton Piers'. Acknowledges she exaggerates, but it is strange how good and bad the book is; wonders whether 'Percy himself is corrupt'; has just met him. She and Leonard return to Richmond on Monday, and hopes Bob and Bessie will soon visit; wants to discuss his Aeschylus [translation of the "Oresteia"]; accepts his spelling of 'quire'. Would not 'yield to Logan. If he thinks "Earlham" a masterpiece, he is not to be trusted about the letter K'. Hopes Robert is writing a poem; is 'dipping into "Georgian Poetry [1920-] 1922"' [edited by Eddie Marsh] and getting 'bored to death with apple trees and acorns'. Notes in a postscript that she and 'Bertha Ruck' are now 'great friends' [Berta Ruck was offended by Virginia's near-use of her name on a tombstone in "Jacob's Room"]; 'Tom Gaze [a typing error for Tom Gage, another tombstone name?] turned out to be Lytton [Strachey]-Carrington'.

Asks Bob if he can lend her Percy Lubbock's "Earlham": Logan [Pearsall Smith?] 'says it is a masterpiece, but she cannot get it from Mudie's [Library]. Encloses stamps and will return it in a fortnight; gives her address at Monk's House. Is taking Bob's translations [of Aeschylus's "Oresteia"] with her to read. Thinks he should not use 'quire' for 'choir'; it makes her, as a publisher, think of '24 sheets post 8vo'.

Warre House, Eton College, Windsor. - P[ercy] Lubbock 'spontaneously expressed the strongest approval of [Gow's] sketch of A. E. H[ousman]. Signed 'G.W.L.'

The Shiffolds,. - He and Bessie are very glad that his mother is better; good that the weather is 'still so kindly' since she will be able to go out. Julian came home on Friday; he 'seems to have done quite well this term, and his reports are good'. He also seems 'well and cheerful'. Robert does 'Latin and English reading for an hour or so each morning'; Julian is 'quite good at Latin, considering he did very little at school'.

Bessie says Robert's mother has sent him a 'diary or pocket-book'; thanks her, and is sure it will be very useful. Hopes his Aeschylus [his translation of the Oresteia] will arrive for his parents soon. Asks if she has read Percy Lubbock's Earlham; he and Bessie 'find it rather interesting, and very well-written. There is no story, which makes it rather slow'. Could lend it to her when he has finished. Bessie is well, and 'glad to get back'. Thanks his mother for sending 'the English Association papers', several of which he found very interesting. If more come, would 'always be glad to see them'.