Item 8 - Letter from John Masefield to R. C. Trevelyan

1 item

Wolverhampton Art and Industrial Exhibition, 1902, Gresham Chambers, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton. - Thanks Trevelyan for his letter and the loan of the books. Asks if he knows Yeats' book "The Shadowy Waters"; thinks it contains some of his best work and would be happy to lend it. Thanks for the offer of Housman; knows his books but cannot get much of what he wants out of them. Feels that the poem he wants to write about the Mediterranean pirates will have to wait unless he can find information he needs in Arrian, recommended by Binyon. Can't read Latin even with a crib, as he does not have 'the gift of tongues' and left school at thirteen. Reads French easily and has taken to reading the classics in French. Is trying to learn Irish, a 'dreadful tongue'. Has another book by Gorki, "Three Men" ["Three of Them / Трое"] which he thinks is far better than the short stories and will lend whenever Trevelyan wishes.