[35A School St., Andover, Mass.]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
19 Carlyle Mansions
15 July 1952
St. Swithun’s: and it rained
a bit this morning.
My dear Emily,

I am very tardy in writing, but that is due to the great pressure recently, not so much of ‘work’ in the proper sense, but of work in the most arduous sense: American and other visitors. Some from the continent, some from the provinces: all converging on London during June and July, all under one of the three chief obligations – that of having been hospitable to me elsewhere, that of having been friends of friends, and that of having had previous kindnesses which one must repeat. ThenEnglish Speaking UnionTSE opens library at;a6 I had to ‘open’ a library at the English Speaking Union (becauseBooks Across the Sea;c5 of my previous connexion with Books Across the Sea). I am only happy that I was able to fit in among this varied crowd of Americans (including a boyhood friend whom I had not seen for 45 years, and his wife)[,] colonials, foreigners and provincials (aChiari, Joseph;a3 Corsican protegé from Manchester,1 andAylward, James de Vineretires to Cheshire;a3 an old Bank friend aged 80 retired to Cheshire, where he has become an authority on 18th century swords)[,]2 bothElsmith, Dorothy Olcotttaken to dinner at Garrick;c8 Dorothy Elsmith andFoss, Marylunched at the Connaught;a8 Mrs. Foss (and her friend, who turned out to be not Mrs. Kimball but Mrs. Hogan, but very agreeable). IGarrick Club, London;a6 had Dorothy to dinner alone at the Garrick; and I hope to entertain her again in the autumn, when she returns to look after installing Deborah and her husband and child while the husband studies at the Institute of Tropical Medicine. I lunched Mary Foss and her friend at the Connaught, and have had a touching note of thanks from Mrs. Foss. Icommunism;b8 have had various committees; my last public affairs take place on Tuesday, when I have a committee in the morning to consider a book supposed to state the Anglican position in regard to Communism, andLondon LibraryTSE's presidential address to;a7 have to make my presidential address (as yet only half written) to the London Library. IBrownes, the Martin;d2 have to dine with the Brownes tomorrow; IRoberts, Janet;b6 supped with Janet Roberts and her sister from St. Louis (who had a strong st. Louis accent) last Sunday. AndWashington University, St. Louislater invitation refused on medical grounds;a2 I have written to the Chancellor of Washington University to say that my doctor forbids me to come to St. Louis in February, but will allow me to come in June. Andtravels, trips and plansTSE's 1952 rest cure in Switzerland;h9;a3 my doctor has succeeded in getting the Medical Council to agree that I should be allowed on grounds of health to spend enough of my money abroad for three weeks holiday in Switzerland from August 25th.

You will be tired by this [recital] of my own occupations and prospects. Both Dorothy and Mrs. Foss (I was more guarded with the latter) agree that you ought to get a holiday remote from Boston and should go at least to Grand Manan. Dorothy seems to understand the necessity of getting away from Commonwealth Avenue. It is most regrettable that you should put your dentistry into the vacation, instead of insisting on having it during term. Dorothy agrees that it is better that you should be in Andover than in Boston: but still better if you could be still farther away from Commonwealth Avenue.

Perhaps I can write a better letter when I have got rid of all these summer duties.

Lovingly
Tom

1.Joseph Chiari.

2.James de Vine Aylward (1870–1966) had been a colleague at Lloyds Bank; author of The Small-Sword in England, Its History, Its Forms, Its Makers, and Its Masters (1946); The House of Angelo: A dynasty of swordsmen, with special reference to Domenica Angelo and his son Henry (1953). TSE to Simon Nowell-Smith, 8 Dec. 1955: ‘Since his retirement [Aylward] has made himself an authority on swords and swordmanship, and knows more about 18th C. small swords than anyone in England, and up to the age of about eighty was a very active fencer.’

Aylward, James de Vine, TSE on, TSE on Order of Merit to, retires to Cheshire,

1.JamesAylward, James de Vine de Vine Aylward (1870–1966) had been a colleague at Lloyds Bank; author of The Small-Sword in England: Its History, its Forms, Its Makers, and its Masters (1946); The House of Angelo: A dynasty of swordsmen, with special reference to Domenica Angelo and his son Henry (1953). TSEAylward, James de VineTSE on;a1 to Hayward, 29 Nov. 1939: ‘J. de V., up to August 1914, was a fairly successful portrait painter of horses, though of course not in the runnings with Munnings … [He] became my second in the Foreign Intelligence Bureau, because he was the only man in the Colonial and Foreign Department who could read French and German except myself.’

Books Across the Sea, TSE unwillingly president of, AGM, letter to The Times for, exhibition, reception for Beatrice Warde, The Times reports on, TSE trumpets in TES, 'Bridgebuilders', TLS reports on, and South Audley Street library, absorbed into English Speaking Union, final meeting of,
Brownes, the Martin, at TSE's theatrical tea-party, pick over scenario for Murder, TSE's fondness for, introduce TSE to Saint-Denis, both invited to Tenebrae, TSE reads Family Reunion to, and their Pilgrim Players, their sons, among TSE's intimates, encourage TSE over Cocktail Party, discuss Cocktail Party draft, Silver Wedding Party,
Chiari, Joseph, and TSE's Borders motor-tour, preface for, Contemporary French Poetry,

5.JosephChiari, Joseph Chiari (1911–89): French poet, author, diplomat. ‘Following the collapse of France I answered General de Gaulle’s appeal on the day he made it, the 18th June, and as I was unfit for military service, as soon as a French organisation was set up I was sent to Scotland as its political and cultural envoy. I met Eliot some time in 1943, through a mutual friend, Denis Saurat, who was Professor of French at King’s College and Director of the French Institute in London’ (T. S. Eliot: A Memoir [1997], 19). Chiari also held teaching posts at London and Manchester. A prolific author, his publications include Contemporary French Poetry, with foreword by TSE (1952); Symbolism from Poe to Mallarmé: The Growth of a Myth (1956); T. S. Eliot: Poet and Dramatist (1975).

communism, TSE's fantasy political party conceived against, communists satirised in The Rock, communists known to TSE, essentially antagonistic to Christianity, discussed with Bunny Wilson, and unemployment, as against fascism, the church's case against, preferred to conservatism, TSE asked to sign Christian manifesto against, as inspiration for Auden and Isherwood's collaboration, preached by Cecil Day Lewis, and Middleton Murry, during the Cold War, Margaret Thorp's liberal hypocrises over,
Elsmith, Dorothy Olcott, issues invitation to Woods Hole, TSE and EH to stay with, now living in Boston, invites TSE again to Woods Hole, thanked for hospitality, on TSE as nurse, attends Kind Lady, reports on Kind Lady, in New Zealand, taken to dinner at Garrick, EH in Grand Manan with, EH visits during Christmas holidays, present when EH learns of TSE's death,
see also Elsmiths, the

4.TSEElsmiths, theseminal Woods Hole stay with;a1Elsmith, Dorothy OlcottElsmiths, the andAmericaWoods Hole, Falmouth, Massachusetts;i2TSE and EH's holiday in recalled;a2St. LouisAmericaBostonAmericaCaliforniaAmericaCambridge, MassachusettsAmericaHollywoodAmericaNew EnglandAmericaNew YorkAmerica EHElsmith, Dorothy Olcott were going to visit a friend of EH’s named Dorothy Olcott Elsmith (a graduate of Smith College), who lived with her family in a white clapboard house by the seaside at Woods Hole, Falmouth, Mass.: see Biographical Register.

English Speaking Union, absorbs Books Across the Sea, TSE opens library at,
Foss, Mary, EH's holidays with, lunched at the Connaught,

1.MaryFoss, Mary Foss was an old friend of EH: they were contemporaries at Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT, where they acted in plays and were members of a Shakespeare club. EH would often visit the Fosses at their home in Concord, and she taught the daughter, Sally Foss, while at Concord Academy.

Garrick Club, London, described for EH, Literary Society dine at, supper with Robert Lowell at, hosts supper honouring Sybil Thorndike,
London Library, lends TSE works of Marston, during the Blitz, makes TSE President, TSE's presidential address to, annual meeting dreaded,
Roberts, Janet, just returned from the Alps, laments The Criterion's closure, remembers EH in Scotland, her parents recalled by EH, sends TSE butter, resemblance to husband, TSE's fondness for, writes about Rome broadcast, confides Michael's illness, following Michael's death, TSE reads to her children, dinner with over Christmas, worried about Michael's job,
see also Robertses, the
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,
Washington University, St. Louis, honours TSE with reception, later invitation refused on medical grounds, TSE's address to, awards TSE honorary degree,