[No surviving envelope]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
Faber & Faber Ltd
8 October 1951
Mytravels, trips and plansTSE's September 1951 Geneva stay;h4recounted;a3 Dear,

I owe you a long letter (though I know you prefer more frequent and briefer ones) as I have been a very bad correspondent since my return from Switzerland. At first I was not very well – merely, I think, the change from a climate at its best to one at its usual: I am sure that the fortnight at Vevey did me much good. – The weather was hot and sunny, the first real warmth I have experienced since I was in Chicago; the hotel was plain and comfortable; I had a room with a kind of balcony overlooking the lake, looking down over vineyards to Vevey, and across the lake the Dents du Midi. I sat on the terrace, took walks, and went down to Vevey to bathe. TheClements, thein Geneva;a8 Clements came over one day for lunch; afterClement, James;a6 that Jim had to go into hospital in Geneva for a hernia operation; I saw them once after that, as I went in to Geneva to see him in his hospital. And nearly all the people in the pension were German-Swiss, who left me alone completely.

IFranceSwitzerland now favoured over;a9 have kept that address you gave me of a hotel in France. Some day I may try it, but nowadays I have little inclination to holiday in France. The atmosphere there is too unsettled, one is too much reminded of all the decay of the last thirty years culminating in the occupation and its morally debilitating effect. And I am very glad I did not go to Venice. Whereas Switzerland is much more like itself, as it was forty years ago, than any other country to-day; the most restful environment one can find in these restless times.

AfterConfidential Clerk, Thebeing written;a4 my return I was impatient to get back to my play, and so bent my energies to finishing off a task I had undertaken as a duty – writing'Preface' (to The Need for Roots);a3 an introduction to a book (to the translation, rather) byWeil, SimoneTSE on;a2 a French writer named Simone Weil of whom much will be heard (she died during the war) but who needed and deserved an introduction that would help (and no Roman Catholic or Jew could very well do it, because she was too severe upon both!). Now that is done, and I have started on the play again. I hope that I can finish it by the summer (allowing for the visit I intend to pay to the USA in the spring). I don’t know. Until I have quite finished the first draft, and taken a few opinions, I shan’t even be sure that it is not worthless. And if I do finish it satisfactorily, the problem of whom to entrust it to is a difficult one. IOliviers, thelobbying TSE for roles;a1 believe the Oliviers would like to do a play of mine (at least, they have lately seemed very ready to cultivate my acquaintance, and they are pleasant people).1 OnBrowne, Elliott MartinTSE debates whether to continue collaboration with;f4 the other hand, Martin has certainly made a better job of my plays each time; and I fear that he would be heart-broken. On one hand, his criticism of the Cocktail Party was very useful indeed, while I was writing it; and I am used to working with him. OnBrowne, Henzie (née Raeburn)complicates future collaboration with Martin;b5 the other hand, of course, there is always the Henzie problem, and I want to avoid a painful showdown about that – the necessity of telling him frankly that she is not a good actress, and that she would look ludicrously miscast in any part I had to give, and that it is very disadvantageous to him as a producer, and does not look very well, for him to put her into his productions, when it is quite clear that it is only through him that she can ever get a part. HeSherek, Henry;a7 and Sherek between them (I don’t know how much was Sherek) made a pretty good job of casting. AgainGuinness, Alecwould turn down anyone for TSE;b5, Alec Guinness, whom I saw the other night, said he would turn down anything for an opportunity to be in another play of mine; but I doubt whether it is a good thing to have the same star in two consecutive plays – itCocktail Party, Theand casting for Confidential Clerk;e3 might give the impression that this was an imitation of the Cocktail Party (I should like your opinion on this point). AndHunter, Ian (impresario);a1 finally, Ian Hunter – not the actor, but the Director of the Edinburgh Festival,2 would like a play by me for next August.

IOld Vic, TheWolfit's Tamburlaine;c3 have seen something of the theatrical world lately, asMarlowe, ChristopherTamburlaine;a1 IWolfit, Donaldhis Tamburlaine;a2 went to the first night of Tamburlaine at the Old Vic: done as well as it can be done, I think, by Donald Wolfit.3 The first time it has been performed for centuries, and probably the last. Even very much cut, it took three and a quarter hours; the monotony of violence becomes more and more oppressive; it has no plot; Wolfit characterised the part brilliantly, but to characterise it makes the splendid speeches, which are what one remembers from the play, glaringly inconsistent with the character. StillGuthrie, Tyroneand Wolfit's Tamburlaine;a5, it was well done, with a spectacular décor by Guthrie. TheOliviers, theinvite TSE to post-performance party;a2Olivier, LaurenceOliviers, theLeigh, VivienOliviers, the following night I had to go to an after-the-theatre reception given by the Oliviers forBarrault, Jean-Louisthe Oliviers give party for;a1 J. L. Barrault and his French company, and last week to a similar reception for the same people at the French Embassy. IMarivaux, Pierre de;a1 am hoping to see them in a Marivaux play on Friday.4

HoelleringHoellering, George M.peddling his Murder;c1 came to see me finally. ItMurder in the CathedralHoellering film;g1and Venice Film Festival;b8 seems that the reception of the film at Venice was rather mixed; but that in spite of the language difficulty, the Italian critics were the most appreciative. It took two minor prizes: one for sets and one for costumes. He says you get a bad audience there; that the Festival itself was first organised to help the Lido hotels at the end of the season; that they they [sc. try] to get film stars to be there in order to attract guests; and that the Lido was filled with vulgar rich people who ate and drank a great deal. As for the launching of the film, it was to have taken place on Oct. 25 – andBritish General Election1951;a1 then that date was announced for the General Election. TheMary, Queen ('Mary of Teck');a2 date was chosen by Queen Mary, but I gather that the King’s illness has subsequently cancelled all engagements of Royalty anyway. So now it is postponed to January 8th; butWand, William, Bishop of Londonprivate screening of Murder arranged for;a1 there is to be a private showing for the Bishop of London next week. H. hopes that by January it will have been taken by somebody in New York, so that it can open there simultaneously.

ThereMerriman, Dorothea (née Foote);a7 are still American visitors about. Dorothea Merriman is here; andGiroux, Robert ('Bob');a4 I must do something more for Robert Giroux.

Your birthday letter arrived in time, thank you for that; andNason, Margaret ('Meg') Geraldinesends TSE birthday cake;a3 a cake from Meg the day before: asSwan, Ethelshares TSE's birthday-cake;b2 this year my birthday fell on a Wednesday, the book-committee day, it was partaken of by the board and the secretaries and Miss Swan quite fresh. I am glad that you have resolved not to go in to Boston very often; for it seems to me that you have not had quite as good a rest this summer, in spite of Chocorua. Grand Manan seems to do you as much good as anywhere. I hope that you get a good lot of girls this year, I shall hope to hear more about them, and about this year’s work, later. IPerkins, Edith (EH's aunt);k7 shall write again, briefly, to Aunt Edith, who also sent me a birthday letter.

Itravels, trips and plansTSE's 1952 visit to America;h8;a1 want to come in May, whether the play is finished or not.

Lovingly
Tom.

1.Laurence Olivier (1907–89): distinguished British stage and screen actor who made his name in productions on the London stage including Noel Coward’s Private Lives (1930) and Romeo and Juliet (1935). In the 1940s he was co-director of the Old Vic Theatre, where his roles included the title part in Richard III. In 1957 he joined the English Stage Company, appearing in successful new plays including The Entertainer (1957), by John Osborne. He was founding director of the National Theatre, 1963–73, where his successful appearances included the title role in Othello (1965). He starred too in movies including Wuthering Heights (1939) and Henry V (1944), for which he won many awards. Knighted in 1947, he was given a life peerage in 1970, and conferred with the Order of Merit in 1981. HisLeigh, Vivien wife at this time, 1940–60, was the British actor Vivien Leigh (1913–67), celebrated for starring roles in movies including Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).

2.IanHunter, Ian (impresario) Hunter, MBE (1919–2003), British festival director, impresario, talent manager, succeeded Rudolf Bing as artistic director of the Edinburgh Festival, 1950–5. He pursued his success in that capacity with others including the Bath Festival (from 1948), City of London Festival (from 1962), Brighton Festival (1967–83), Windsor Festival (1969–72), Hong Kong Festival (1973–5), and a one-off Commonwealth Arts Festival (1965). In addition, he was chairman of the artists’ agency Harold Holt Ltd, 1953–88. Knighted in 1983. As a guest on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs, his choice of book was the complete works of T. S. Eliot.

3.Wolfit starred in an abridgement of the two-part Tamburlaine the Great, by Christopher Marlowe; directed by Tyrone Guthrie, the production ran for five weeks in London.

4.Jean-LouisBarrault, Jean-Louis Barrault (1910–94): celebrated French stage and screen actor, director and mime; his triumphs include roles in classic and contemporary plays, and in the film Les Enfants du Paradis (1945). He starred at the St James’ Theatre in a five-week run of the comedy Les Fausses Confidences (‘False Confidences’, 1737), by Pierre de Marivaux (1688–1763).

Barrault, Jean-Louis, the Oliviers give party for,

4.Jean-LouisBarrault, Jean-Louis Barrault (1910–94): celebrated French stage and screen actor, director and mime; his triumphs include roles in classic and contemporary plays, and in the film Les Enfants du Paradis (1945). He starred at the St James’ Theatre in a five-week run of the comedy Les Fausses Confidences (‘False Confidences’, 1737), by Pierre de Marivaux (1688–1763).

British General Election, 1931, 1936, and the value of sterling, 1945, its political terrain, TSE fears Labour Party's agenda, but welcomes change of government, 1951,
Browne, Elliott Martin, meets TSE at Chichester, production of The Rock, meets TSE over possible collaboration, talks over outline of play, meets TSE with Martin Shaw, delighted with Rock choruses, discusses unwritten pageant scenes with TSE, predicament as The Rock's director, well connected in amateur circles, revising into the night with TSE, argues with Shaw at dress-rehearsal, presented to Prince Arthur, honoured by Rock cast-supper, producing Gordon Bottomley's play, speaks at Londonderry House with TSE, 1935 Canterbury Murder in the Cathedral, approached by TSE to 'produce', consulted throughout composition, goes silent, lunches with TSE and Speaight, directs and acts despite illness, pursues London Murder revival, 1935–6 Mercury Theatre Murder revival, engaged as producer by Dukes, keen that EH attend rehearsals, simultaneously part of BBC production, agrees about Speaight's decline, preferred as producer for TSE's next play, and Charles Williams's Cranmer, in which he plays 'the Skeleton', and TSE attend Tenebrae, taken to Cambridge after-feast, producing York Nativity Play, which TSE thinks Giottoesque, at Savile Club Murder dinner, producing Shakespeare's Dream, and Ascent of F6, and Tewkesbury Festival Murder confusion, 1939 production of The Family Reunion, due to be sent script, weighing TSE's proposal that he produce, enthused by script, suggests TSE see Mourning Becomes Electra, against Family Reunion as title, pleased with draft, quizzed on fire-safety, typescript prepared for, new draft submitted to, rewrite waits on, receives new draft, criticisms thereof, reports John Gielgud interest, mediates between Gielgud and TSE, TSE throws over Gielgud for, secures Westminster Theatre production, steps into company breach, then into still-greater breach, and the play's weaknesses, direction of Family Reunion, receives TSE's Shakespeare lectures, 1938 American Murder tour, re-rehearsing actors for, suffers fit of pre-tour gloom, yet to report from Boston, and Tewkesbury pageant, accompanies TSE to La Mandragola, on Family Reunion's future prospects, and possible Orson Welles interest, war leaves at loose end, advises TSE over next play, war work with Pilgrim Players, unavailable for modern-dress Murder, compared to tempter/knight successor, requests Pilgrim Players' play from TSE, New Plays by Poets series, as director, and This Way to the Tomb, and Family Reunion revival, urges TSE to concentrate on theatre, 1946 Mercury Family Reunion revival, in rehearsal, possible revue for Mercury Theatre, and The Lady's Not for Burning, Chairman of the Drama League, 1949 Edinburgh Cocktail Party, to produce, TSE's intended first reader for, receives beginning, approves first act, receives TSE's revisions, communciates Alec Guinness's enthusiasm, arranges reading, surpasses himself with production, in Florence, EH suggests moving on from, and the Poets' Theatre Guild, 1950 Cocktail Party New York transfer, compares Rex Harrison and Alec Guinness, TSE debates whether to continue collaboration with, suggests three-play TSE repertory, 1953 Edinburgh Confidential Clerk, receives first two acts, designing sets, 1953 Lyric Theatre Confidential Clerk, attends with TSE, 1954 American Confidential Clerk, 1954 touring Confidential Clerk, TSE and Martin Browne catch in Golders Green, seeks Family Reunion MS from EH,
see also Brownes, the Martin

4.E. MartinBrowne, Elliott Martin Browne (1900–80), English director and producer, was to direct the first production of Murder in the Cathedral: see Biographical Register.

Browne, Henzie (née Raeburn), meets TSE at Chichester, and initial discussions of The Rock with TSE, discusses unwritten pageant scenes, in Family Reunion, asks after EH, looking after her two boys, in Old Man of the Mountains, stands in for Henrietta Watson in Family Reunion, marks TSE's OM with party, as Cocktail Party understudy, as actress,
see also Brownes, the Martin
Clement, James, Wayland weekends with, conversation limited to grandchildren,
see also Clements, the

2.JamesClement, James Clement (1889–1973), Harvard Class of 1911, marriedClement, Margot Marguerite C. Burrel (who was Swiss by birth) in 1913. In later years, TSE liked visiting them at their home in Geneva.

Clements, the, their marriage, take TSE to hockey match, at the movies with TSE, send TSE food, in Geneva,
Cocktail Party, The, copy inscribed to Miss Swan, Martin Browne's preference for a popular play, plot ruminated, still a distant prospect, deferred by war, at last begun, being written, EH begs TSE to continue, stimulated by the Martin Brownes, titled and nearly drafted, interrupted, attempts to reconcile EH to title, to be discussed with Brownes, to be continued in Princeton, end in prospect, TSE rewriting, alternative titles, its star appeal, 1949 Edinburgh Festival production, Martin Browne to produce, production schedule, the Martin Browne collaboration, 'reading' for, reviewed, cuts made during rehearsal, TSE's opening-night impressions, stage-set for, copy to be sent to EH, EH on, TSE disavows autobiographical basis, post-Edinburgh prospects, 1949 Theatre Royal, Brighton run, its fate, closing, 1950 New York transfer, TSE skeptical of, its fate, being negotiated, fixed, revisions made in mind of, alarmingly successful, royalties from, prospects beyond 1 June 1950, final act still being rewritten, its reception, EH's second opinion on, 1950 New Theatre production, preliminary week in Southsea, its fate, opening night, to close with provinicial tour, comes off at New Theatre, Mrs Nef's reading-group reading, in which TSE reads Reilly, and casting for Confidential Clerk, its first draft, difficult to produce in France, 1954 Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier production, reception, Muriel Spark on, EH detects hidden meaning in,
Confidential Clerk, The, first sketches towards, intended for 1952 Edinburgh Festival, being written, draft complete, which TSE rewrites, now intended for 1953 Edinburgh Festival, and Sherek's lordly conduct, EVE typing up, TSE finalising, 1953 Edinburgh production, negotiations over, casting for, may prompt further revision, stage-sets for, EH's ticket arranged for, dress rehearsal, 1953 Lyric Theatre production, first night, full house, soon to come off, 1954 American production, Sherek to negotiate, schedule for, EH encouraged to report on, reception, 1954 Paris International Theatre Festival production, reception, 1954 Ruhrfestspiele production, reception, 1954 post-Paris English touring production, Muriel Spark on, EH requests signed copy of,
France, TSE's Francophilia shared by Whibley, TSE dreams of travelling in, synonymous, for TSE, with civilisation, the Franco-Italian entente, over Portugal, TSE awarded Légion d’honneur, subsequently elevated from chevalier to officier, TSE describes a typical French reception, Switzerland now favoured over, French cuisine, French culture, Exhibition of French Art 1200–1900, French painting, compared to English culture, French language, tires TSE to speak, TSE hears himself speaking, TSE dreads speaking in public, and TSE's false teeth, French politics, French street protest, England's natural ally, post-Versailles, post-war Anglo-French relations, French theatre, the French, more blunt than Americans, as compared to various other races, Paris, TSE's 1910–11 year in, EH pictured in, its society larger than Boston's, TSE's guide to, Anglo-French society, strikes, TSE dreads visiting, post-war, the Riviera, TSE's guide to, the South, fond 1919 memories of walking in, Limoges in 1910, Bordeaux,
Giroux, Robert ('Bob'), sees TSE off at La Guardia, TSE's New York mainstay, in London,

7.RobertGiroux, Robert ('Bob') Giroux (1914–2008): American book editor and publisher: see Biographical Register.

Guinness, Alec, as Hamlet, in Martin Browne's Coriolanus, desires to act for TSE, keen on Cocktail Party, at Cocktail Party reading, praised by The Times, in The Cocktail Party, 'most intelligent' British actor, desires London Cocktail Party production, superior to Rex Harrison, at TSE's Cocktail Party buffet, would turn down anyone for TSE, presses TSE for new play, wouldn't work for Sherek,

5.AlecGuinness, Alec Guinness (1914–2000), distinguished English actor: see Biographical Register.

Guthrie, Tyrone, counsels Doone against Yeats's Mercury Theatre season, withdraws from Mercury season, fellow-speaker at Group Theatre fundraising event, considers Old Vic Family Reunion, and Wolfit's Tamburlaine,

10.TyroneGuthrie, Tyrone Guthrie (1900–71), theatre and opera director; later instrumental in the founding of the Stratford Festival of Canada and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Hoellering, George M., pitches for Murder film rights, TSE's fondness for, accompanies TSE on Canterbury recce, persists with TSE, encourages TSE over adaptation, sitting on TSE's scenario, commissioned to film Archbishop's enthronement, incommunicado, publicising Murder, on collaborating with TSE, tries to cast TSE as Becket, discovers Father Groser of Stepney, dressing set in disused church, peddling his Murder, and Murder's reception, Message from Canterbury,

3.GeorgeHoellering, George M. M. Hoellering (1898–1980), Austrian-born filmmaker and cinema manager: see Biographical Register.

Hunter, Ian (impresario), wants three TSE plays in repertory, receives The Confidential Clerk,

2.IanHunter, Ian (impresario) Hunter, MBE (1919–2003), British festival director, impresario, talent manager, succeeded Rudolf Bing as artistic director of the Edinburgh Festival, 1950–5. He pursued his success in that capacity with others including the Bath Festival (from 1948), City of London Festival (from 1962), Brighton Festival (1967–83), Windsor Festival (1969–72), Hong Kong Festival (1973–5), and a one-off Commonwealth Arts Festival (1965). In addition, he was chairman of the artists’ agency Harold Holt Ltd, 1953–88. Knighted in 1983. As a guest on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs, his choice of book was the complete works of T. S. Eliot.

Leigh, Vivien,
see also Oliviers, the

1.Laurence Olivier (1907–89): distinguished British stage and screen actor who made his name in productions on the London stage including Noel Coward’s Private Lives (1930) and Romeo and Juliet (1935). In the 1940s he was co-director of the Old Vic Theatre, where his roles included the title part in Richard III. In 1957 he joined the English Stage Company, appearing in successful new plays including The Entertainer (1957), by John Osborne. He was founding director of the National Theatre, 1963–73, where his successful appearances included the title role in Othello (1965). He starred too in movies including Wuthering Heights (1939) and Henry V (1944), for which he won many awards. Knighted in 1947, he was given a life peerage in 1970, and conferred with the Order of Merit in 1981. HisLeigh, Vivien wife at this time, 1940–60, was the British actor Vivien Leigh (1913–67), celebrated for starring roles in movies including Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).

Marivaux, Pierre de,
Marlowe, Christopher, Tamburlaine,
Mary, Queen ('Mary of Teck'), attends Murder with daughter,
Merriman, Dorothea (née Foote),
Murder in the Cathedral, idea for initially suggested by Laurence Irving, offered to Martin Browne, St. Thomas as TSE's muse, TSE on writing, tentatively, 'The Archbishop Murder Case', uncertainties over title, currently 'Fear in the Way', which proves unpopular, TSE on rewriting, title settled on, final revisions for printer, tentatively critiqued by EH, and EH on TSE as dramatist, chorus copied for EH, Virginia Woolf's aspersions on, the form of its choruses, defended from obscurity, did not test TSE's plotting, book-sales to-date, $1,000 offered for American rights, pays for 1936 American trip, Italian and Hungarian rights sold, and Whiggery, Savile Club dinner to celebrate, compared to next play, discrepancies of Canterbury Text, Martin Browne's initial response to, TSE recognised as author of, TSE on its cheerful title, EH on, abandoned Mercury Theatre premiere, suggested by Yeats and Doone, in the offing, and Doone's response to first draft, EH requested at, imperilled, text copied for Yeats, 1935 Canterbury Festival production, in rehearsal, opening night, reception, final performance, and EH's response, 1935–6 Mercury Theatre revival, Martin Browne pushing for, in rehearsal, which EH attends, compared to Canterbury original, at the box-office, its 100th performance, still running, proposed tour to end, 1936 BBC radio version, BBC bid to produce, broadcast fixed, BBC memo on, in rehearsal, TSE on, abortive 1936 New York transfer, Dukes visits America to arrange, blighted by Brace's actions, quashed by Federal Theatre production, its usurper founders, deferred to autumn, unsolicited 1936 New York production, licensed by Brace, to be directed by Rice, seemingly withdrawn, Rice resigns from, delights EH and Eleanor Hinkley, TSE sent press-cuttings for, EH reports on, TSE speculates as to textual discrepancies, attended by Eleanor Roosevelt, extended and potentially expanded, TSE to the Transcript on, may predispose immigration authorities favourably in future, royalties from, 1936 University College, Dublin student production, described by TSE, rumoured Australian and American productions, 1936 Gate Theatre touring production, TSE's long-held wish, scheduled, 1936 touring production, due at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge, as it was played in Cambridge, 1936 America pirate production, 1937 Duchess Theatre West End transfer, date fixed for, announced in Times, dress-rehearsal attended, reception, reviewed, royalties, still playing, ticket sales pick up, coming to an end, receives royal visit, 1937 touring production, scheduled post-Duchess, beginning in Leeds, then Manchester, going strong, 1937 Harvard University production, 1937 Amherst College production, singled out for praise, 1937 Old Vic production, touring production arrived at, in rehearsal, 1937 Tewkesbury Drama Festival production, 1938 American tour, projected for January 1937, said date seconded by Dukes, deferred to September 1937, confirmed again by Dukes, pre-tour dates in Golders Green, then Liverpool, opening in Boston in January, over which EH is consulted, tour itinerary, Family Reunion keeps TSE from, preparatory re-rehearsal for, pre-crossing Liverpool dates, EH's judgement desired, EH reports on first night, reviewed in The Times, EH sends New York cuttings, prematurely transferred to New York, Dukes reports on, Westminster Cathedral Hall charity performance, 1940 Latham Mercury revival, revival suggested in rep with Family Reunion, wartime modern-dress production suggested, ambushes TSE, in rehearsal, first night, reviewed, Browne's wartime Pilgrim Players' adaptation, Hoellering film, Hoellering's initial approach made, Hoellering's vision for, TSE adapting for screen, reconnoitre of Canterbury for, casting Becket, recording made for, development process described to NYT, non-actor found for Becket, screenings of Groser, set-dressing, screening, approaching release, still in the edit, final screening, and Venice Film Festival, seeking distribution, soon to premiere, opens, initial reception, circulating in shortened version, 1945 Théâtre du Vieux Colombier production, compared to Martin Browne's, royalties, apparently a hit, reviewed, reaches 150 performances, Fluchère's involvement, 1946 German production, 1947 Edinburgh Festival production, 1948 Milton Academy production, 1949 broadcast, 1949 Berlin production, politically resonant, 1952 University of Rennes, Grand Théâtre abridgment, 1952 Théatre National Populaire production, 1953 Old Vic revival, waiting on Donat, TSE on, 1954 Harvard production,
Nason, Margaret ('Meg') Geraldine, sends TSE birthday letter, sends TSE birthday cake, sends TSE box of toffee, apparently forgets TSE's birthday, but remembers, ill, expecting operation, among the saved, a 'Cosy Pet', and sister to lunch, given small iron wheelbarrow, her health,

1.MargaretNason, Margaret ('Meg') Geraldine (Meg) Geraldine Nason (1900–86), proprietor of the Bindery tea rooms, Broadway, Worcestershire, whom TSE and EH befriended on visits to Chipping Campden.

Old Vic, The, relationship to Sadler's Wells, presents Laughton's Macbeth, presents Othello, presents Henry IV, Part II, presents The Witch of Edmonton, Olivier's (complete) Hamlet, presents Murder, Guthrie's Measure for Measure, Emlyn Williams's Richard III, Alec Guinness's Hamlet, considers Family Reunion, presents Midsummer Night's Dream, TSE's fellow air-warden involved with, Hamlet starring Robert Helpmann at, engages Martin Browne to produce Coriolanus, Wolfit's Tamburlaine, wants to revive Murder, to produce The Confidential Clerk,
Oliviers, the, lobbying TSE for roles, invite TSE to post-performance party,
Perkins, Edith (EH's aunt), her relationship to EH queried, to accompany EH to Scripps, asks TSE to dinner, at first Norton lecture, shares pew with TSE, accompanies TSE to Symphony Concert, in audience at Milton Academy, catches cold in Florence, in TSE's private opinion, TSE's occasional poem for, her relationship with EH analysed, dislikes Jeanette McPherrin, explains EH's breakdown to TSE, on the Harvard Murder, as Campden hostess, and TSE's wartime instructions to EH, gives lunch at American Women's Club, gives TSE balsam pillow, requests English edition of Cats, as horticulturalist, without Campden garden, compared to Irene Hale, gives TSE photograph of EH, attends Ada's funeral, reports on EH's Millbrook situation, pressed for ham and pineapple recipe, sight affected in one eye, gives lecture, sight failing, sight deteriorates in other eye, thanked for 1946 hospitality, gives to Books Across the Sea, according to EH, asks TSE to present slides to RHS, which TSE does, on EH and TSE's relationship, and Hidcote House, friendly with Marion, TSE pitches her book to publishers, depressed by the heat, somewhat recovered, approaching 80th, faced with husband's death, letter of condolence to, sent birthday poem, visited in Boston, has sciatica, reports on EH's dramatic activities, Miss Lavorgna on, in her old-age infirmity, suffers 'shock', sacks nurse, EH preserved from, sends funeral tribute to Cousin Will, and the Hale letters, nursing home sought for, moved into nursing home, where TSE writes to her, suffers stroke, deteriorating, relations with EH, her legacy to EH,
see also Perkinses, the
'Preface' (to The Need for Roots),
Sherek, Henry, dissuades TSE from coaching actors, confounds TSE's expectations, recommends New York Cocktail Party transfer, suffers girth-induced sciatica, desires three TSE plays in repertory, which TSE resists, lordly behaviour over Confidential Clerk, American Confidential Clerk production, takes Confidential Clerk to Paris, which proves a misadventure,
see also Shereks, the

4.HenrySherek, Henry Sherek (1900–1967), theatre producer: see Biographical Register.

Swan, Ethel, Peter du Sautoy's tribute to, profiled, Cocktail Party inscribed to, and VHE, her gym routine, notably unphotographed by Picture Post, 'une âme pure', a 'saved soul', shares TSE's birthday-cake,

2.EthelSwan, Ethel Swan, a Faber & Gwyer ‘pioneer’, joined the firm on 12 Oct. 1925, as telephonist and receptionist, retiring in 1972 after 47 years. PeterSwan, EthelPeter du Sautoy's tribute to;a2n du Sautoy reported in 1971: ‘These duties she still performs with admirable skill and charm … SheJoyce, Jameson the phone to the F&F receptionist;c1n has an amazing memory for voices and it is certain that if James Joyce were to return to earth to telephone a complaint (he called us “Feebler and Fumbler”) she would say “Good morning, Mr Joyce” before he could introduce himself, as if he had previously been telephoning only yesterday. Many a visiting author or publisher from overseas has felt more kindly towards Faber & Faber as a result of Miss Swan’s friendly recognition’ (‘Farewell, Russell Square’, The Bookseller no. 3410 [1 May 1971], 2040).

travels, trips and plans, EH's 1930 trip to England, EH's proposed 1931 England visit, called off, EH's 1932 summer holidays, the Eliots' Derby Day excursion, related, the Eliots' July 1932 Hindhead visit, the Eliots' August 1932 Eastbourne holiday, described, TSE's 1932–3 year in America, Norton Professorship offered to TSE, and the prospect of reunion with EH, which TSE refuses to see as decisive, which angers EH, who writes and destroys a response, TSE's financial imperatives, TSE's itinerary, and the question of discretion, opportunity for adventurous lecture-tours, TSE speculates on attendant feelings, TSE on the voyage over, TSE reflects on, TSE's return from, the Eliot family's Randolph holiday, TSE's 1933 westward tour to Scripps, proposed to EH, and TSE's need to lecture, possibly via St. Louis, TSE's itinerary, possible stopover in Seattle, a shameful source of happiness, still a happy thought, described by Havens and others, TSE reflects on, TSE's return from, TSE wonders at after-effect on EH, EH urged to reflect honestly on, Ada on, and a conversation about divorce, in EH's recollection, possible EH 1933 summer in England, TSE's 1933 Faber summer holiday, set for mid-August, postponed, rearranged, TSE buys summer outfits for, described, TSE's 1933 tour of Scotland, possible itinerary, Morley's preparations for, described for EH, TSE's 1933 trip to Paris, mooted, described, EH's 1934–5 year in Europe, TSE delighted at the prospect, attempts to coordinate with TSE's 1934 summer plans, the Perkinses due in Chipping Camden, EH's itinerary, TSE's initial weekend at Chipping Campden, TSE books rooms in Lechlade, TSE visits Campden again with family, and again alone, which visit TSE reflects on, TSE's plans to entertain EH en route to Europe, EH's continental itinerary, VHE and propriety inhibit pre-Paris arrangements, L'Escargot lunch, weekend in Sussex for EH's birthday, possible London tea-party, second lunch at L'Escargot, EH and TSE's November excursions, a month which TSE reflects happily on, EH's summer 1935 plans, EH departs England, EH in Florence, arrived in Rome, TSE coordinating with EH's return, TSE recommends Siena, EH returns to Florence, EH sails for Riviera, EH returns from France, L'Escargot lunch on EH's return, EH sails for Guernsey, May 1935, EH's June 1935 London sortie, TSE attends Dr Perkins's birthday, TSE's July 1935 Campden week, TSE offers to fund EH in London, where EH joins Jeanie McPherrin, TSE's Campden birthday weekend, prospect of EH spending month at Blomfield Terrace, Thorp theatre outing, TSE's 6–8 September Campden weekend, EH staying at 19 Rosary Gardens, EH to Campden for 15–17 November, EH sails for Boston, EH and TSE's final farewell, TSE and EH's final weeks in London, their excursion to Finchampstead, TSE reflects on, excursion to Greenwich, EH reflects on the final weeks of, TSE's 1934 Faber summer holiday, described, TSE's dream of Cairo, TSE's invitation to Finland, palmed off on Robert Nichols, TSE's 1935 tour of Scotland, proposed by Blake, attempts to coordinate with EH, TSE's itinerary, TSE's 1935 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, described, TSE's 1936 visit to Ireland, TSE's itinerary, recounted, TSE's spring/summer 1936 trip to Paris, first contemplated, date fixed, Morleys invited, TSE's itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1936 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, TSE's 1936 American trip, spring arrival dependent on New York Murder, if not spring, then autumn, possible excursions, autumn better for seeing EH, and possible Princeton offer, and possible Smith visit, efforts to coordinate with EH, passage on Alaunia booked, TSE's itinerary, Murder to pay for, coordinating with Eliot Randolph holiday, the moment of parting from EH, TSE's birthday during, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1937 tour of Scotland, itinerary, recounted, the Morley–Eliot 1937 trip to Salzburg, contemplated, itinerary, EH receives postcard from, described, as relayed to OM, EH's 1937 summer in England, and Mrs Seaverns, EH accompanies TSE to Edinburgh, itinerary coordinated with EH, dinner at L'Escargot, TSE's 10–11 July Campden visit, TSE's 17–22 July Campden visit, TSE's 21 August Campden visit, EH travels to Yorkshire, TSE reminisces about, TSE's 1937 Faber summer holiday, TSE reports from, leaves TSE sunburnt, TSE's 1938 trip to Lisbon, outlined to EH, TSE advised on, travel arrangements, the voyage out, described, EH's 1938 summer in England, and whether EH should spend it at Campden, EH's arrival confirmed, TSE's July Campden visit, EH's late-July London stay, TSE's 5–21 August Campden fortnight, TSE's 3–6 September Campden visit, EH's September London stay, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1938 Faber summer holiday, TSE's preparations for, TSE reports from, possible EH England Christmas 1938 visit, possible TSE 1939 visit to America, mooted for spring, complicated by Marion and Dodo's trip, shifted to autumn, threatened by war, made impossible, EH's 1939 England visit, TSE's efforts to coordinate with, threatened by war, complicated by Marion's arrival, EH's itinerary, EH's initial London stay, TSE's 7–20 July Campden visit, TSE's 22–30 August Campden visit, TSE's 2–4 September Campden visit, EH again London, EH and TSE's parting moments, in TSE's memory, memory vitiated by EH's subsequent letter, TSE's 1939 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, possible wartime transatlantic crossings, contingencies, in case of EH being ill, TSE's reasons for and against, and TSE's New York proposition, following invasion Denmark and Norway, impossible for TSE unless official, TSE's desire to remain in England, TSE's reasons for and against accepting lectureship, given Ada's impending death, TSE's abortive 1940 Italian mission, possible but confidential, lectures prepared for, and the prospect of seeing EP, might include Paris, itinerary, in jeopardy, final preparations for, cancelled, TSE's 1940 visit to Dublin, approved by Foreign Office, in national interest, itinerary, recounted, involves TSE's first plane-journey, TSE's 1940 Faber summer holiday, TSE reports from, TSE's 1941 Faber summer holiday, Kipling and fishing-rod packed for, TSE reports from, TSE's 1941 Northern tour, proposed by the Christendom group, arranged with Demant, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1942 British Council mission to Sweden, TSE makes cryptic allusion to, as recounted to EH, as recounted to JDH, return leg in London, as war-work, TSE's 1942 New Forest holiday, described, TSE's 1942 week in Scotland, recounted, TSE's abortive 1942 Iceland mission, TSE's 1943 trip to Edinburgh, recounted, TSE's abortive 1943 Iceland mission, TSE's 1943 New Forest holiday, TSE's 1944 trip to Edinburgh, TSE's abortive 1944 North Africa mission, TSE's May 1945 trip to Paris, described, TSE's June 1945 trip to Paris, recounted, possible post-war American visit, and Henry's impending death, ideally ancillary to work, possibly as F&F's representative, waits on TSE's health and Carlyle Mansions, TSE's 1945 September fortnight in Lee, described, TSE's 1945 Christmas in Lee, described, TSE's 1946 summer in America, date for passage fixed, paperwork for, TSE's itinerary, its aftermath, recounted, TSE's 1947 summer in America, dependent on lecture engagements, TSE seeks to bring forward, Henry's condition brings further forward, set for April, itinerary, EH reflects on, TSE's scheduled December 1947 visit to Marseilles and Rome, itinerary, TSE's preparations for, dreaded, Roman leg described by Roger Hinks, EH's hypothetical March 1948 visit to England, TSE's postponed 1948 trip to Aix, itinerary, recounted, home via Paris, TSE's 1948 trip to America, itinerary, TSE's visit to EH in Andover, disrupted by Nobel Prize, TSE's 1948 Nobel Prize visit to Stockholm, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1949 family motor-tour of Scotland, described, TSE's October–November 1949 trip to Germany, possible itinerary, preparations for, final itinerary, TSE's account of, the return via Belgium, TSE's January 1950 voyage to South Africa, all but fixed, itinerary, described by TSE, recounted by Faber, EH's 1950 summer in England, TSE books EH's hotel room for, TSE's efforts to coordinate with EH's movements, EH in Campden, TSE reports to Aunt Edith on, TSE's 1950 visit to America, and TSE's possible Chicago post, the Chicago leg, November itinerary, TSE's spring 1951 trip to Spain, itinerary, recounted, TSE's September 1951 Geneva stay, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1951 British Council mission to Paris, recounted, TSE's second 1951 British Council mission to Paris, recounted, TSE's 1952 visit to Rennes and the Riviera, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1952 visit to America, itinerary, efforts to coordinate with EH's summer, TSE on meeting with EH, TSE's 1952 rest cure in Switzerland, TSE's 1953 visit to St. Louis and America, set for June, to include fortnight in Cambridge, itinerary, EH's 1953 trip to England, EH's Alnwick plans, TSE books hotel for EH, and EH's ticket to Confidential Clerk, TSE's 1953 visit to Geneva, TSE's 1953–4 trip to South Africa, itinerary, described, arrival described to JDH, GCF on, TSE's 1954 Geneva rest cure, Geneva preferred to Paris, TSE's deferred 1955 visit to Hamburg, prospect inspires reluctance in TSE, proposed for spring 1955, dreaded, TSE now returned from, TSE's 1955 visit to America, and contingent speaking engagements, foreshortened, itinerary, Washington described, TSE's return from, TSE's 1955 Geneva rest cure, TSE's 1956 visit to America, passage fixed for April, itinerary, TSE in the midst of, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1956 Geneva rest cure, itinerary, recounted, illness during, EH's 1957 visit to England, TSE and EVE invited to Campden, TSE reciprocates with London invitation, but EH leaves England abruptly, which TSE consults Eleanor Hinkley over, who duly explains, TSE and EVE's 1958 trip to America, as rumoured to EH, EH's 1959 tour of Scandinavia, funded by bequest from cousin, TSE and EVE's 1959 trip to America, TSE and EVE's 1963 trip to America,
Wand, William, Bishop of London, private screening of Murder arranged for,
Weil, Simone, TSE's preface for, TSE on,

4.‘PrefaceWeil, Simone to The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties towards Mankind, by Simone Weil; trans. Arthur Wills (1952): CProse 7, 662–70. Simone Weil (1909–43) was a French philosopher, secondary school teacher, political activist (she was for a time a Marxist, pacifist and trade unionist, and she fought on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War and for the French Resistance under Charles de Gaulle in London), and idealistic mystic. Her influential works include La Pesanteur et la Grâce (1947); Oppression et liberté (1955). TSE to Herbert Read, 21 Mar. 1951: ‘a preface or introduction to a book by Simone is about the most serious job of the kind that one could undertake. One is so impressed by this terrifying woman that one wants to do something that at least would not risk her disapproval of it.’

Wolfit, Donald, in Volpone, his Tamburlaine,

4.DonaldWolfit, Donald Wolfit (1902–68), distinguished actor and touring manager, being especially noted for his performances in Shakespeare. Knighted in 1957. Mosca was played by Alan Wheatley (1907–91), noted actor of stage, screen and TV (and translator of Lorca) – now perhaps best remembered for playing the (superbly hateful, as I recall) Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1950s’ BBC TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood.