Item 136 - Letter from Hasan Shahid Suhrawardy to R. C. Trevelyan

1 item.

13 Kutchery Road, Karachi (Pakistan) - Read Trevelyan's Homeric Hymn [in that year's "From The Shiffolds"] with great pleasure; praises his diction, not 'Wordsworth's language of the people but the language cultivated people should use'. Has to write an inaugural address for Wordsworth's centenary, organised by the British Council. Agreed to do this, even though he is 'shy of writing', because Wordsworth has never been a favourite of his and he wanted the chance to read up and clarify why to himself. Finds him 'too much of an Englishman'; every experience seems to be 'of equal value' to him, and there are 'long passages of bathos'. However, the "Solitary Reaper" is great, and as Suhrawardy grows older and nostalgic for 'England and her scenery', Wordsworth has become 'close & more acceptable'. Has not read Po-chui's life [translated by Arthur Waley]; the bookshops only have 'political controversial' literature; thanks Trevelyan for offering to send it. His life is 'routinal, dull & lazy' and he is depressed by the situation in India and Pakistan: it is all very different from what was dreamt of. Sends love to Bessie and regards to Mrs [Catherine] Abercrombie.