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

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
Queen’s Hotel,
Sea Point, Cape Town
13 February 1954
Mytravels, trips and plansTSE's 1953–4 trip to South Africa;i4described;a4 Dear,

As your letter forwarded to Plettenberg mentioned not have [sc. having] heard from me I sent you a postcard by air mail. But I have no idea how long either surface or air mail takes from S. Africa to the U.S.A., or what sort of air service there may be between the two countries. I hope however that you have received my earlier communications by now. Plettenberg1 was quite successful – all but one or two days were of the most perfect weather imaginable, and the suff [sc. surf] bathing convenient and delightful. And that was about all we did. The motor coach between Durban and Cape Town stopped (overnight) at Kokstad, East London and Port Elizabeth before bringing us to Plettenberg; we resumed the journey a week later, and after one night at a town called ‘George’2 arrived here yesterday afternoon. This is a rather grand hotel, on the sea front, some twenty minutes by bus from the centre of Cape Town. ThisFabers, theon 1953–4 South Africa trip;i8 morning I am writing in the Fabers’ sitting room, as she is out at a hairdresser’s and he has gone to visit an aurist. I hear her coming in now. Tomorrow we are invited by the curator to visit a bird sanctuary (I have seen flamingos at Durban!); Tuesday I dine with the Dean; Wednesday is Sir G. and Lady Faber’s Cocktail Party; ThursdayParker, Wilfrid, Bishop of Pretoria;a1 I dine with the Bishop;3 Friday is the Foyle’s Luncheon at which I have to speak; and thenceMirrlees, Hopein Stellenbosch;d5 I go out to Stellenbosch to Hope’s until I sail on the 25th.4

I had rather hoped to find a letter from you here. AndSherek, Henry;b5 there has been no communication from Sherek either. IConfidential Clerk, The1954 American production;b4reception;a4 am wondering what the New York press has done by the way of an autopsy.

I am not sure that your air letters have not reached me more quickly by coming via London and my secretary, than they would have done direct. But if I hear from you while I am here I will write again before I leave.

Lovingly
Tom

1.Plettenberg Bay is a popular tourist town in the Western Cape Province of S. Africa, about 400 miles from Cape Town.

2.George, the second largest city in the Western Cape Province, lies at the midpoint between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

3.WilfridParker, Wilfrid, Bishop of Pretoria Parker (1883–1966): Anglican priest; Bishop of Pretoria, 1933–50. TSE dined with Parker and his wife on Thursday, 18 Feb.

Geoffrey and Enid Faber had been entertained by Bishop Parker a few days earlier, as Faber noted in his report on the trip: ‘E.E.F. and I went to tea with Bishop Parker and Mrs Parker in Sir Herbert Stanley’s former house, Papenboom, Newlands. The Bishop is retired, was Bishop of Pretoria, is large and episcopally genial. She […] is very much of a character and grande dame.’ (Bishop Parker was indeed ‘large’: he stood 6 feet 7 inches in height.)

TSE, when he checked over Faber’s typed report for the F&F Book Committee, could not resist a correction when he wrote in faint pencil above the words grande dame ‘blue stocking’ – to which GCF responded by hand in the margin: ‘all right, TSE! ½ grande dame of a departed age, & ½ blue stocking. Not all that sure about the blue stocking, but you saw more of her than we did!’

4.Faber’stravels, trips and plansTSE's 1953–4 trip to South Africa;i4GCF on;a6n account includes these pertinent observations: ‘We left Durban on Monday evening by “luxury bus” for Plettenberg Bay, where we were to spend a week of holiday, en route for Cape Town … T.S.E. had some searing experiences of female fellow-travellers, since he naturally occupied a separate seat. E.E.F. and I were luckier, though our hearts were torn by sympathy for him and we each did our best to ease his ordeal, from time to time, by sitting next to him and obliging his companion to sit in our, respective, places. All the same, he had quite a lot to put up with. Needless to say, he bore his fate with fortitude …

‘Friday'On Poetry and Drama'GCF describes TSE delivering;a2n, February 19. This day centred round the “Foyle Lunch”, given at the Vineyard, in honour of T.S.E. This was a far bigger affair than either T.S.E. or I had envisaged, when we consented to it two or three months in advance. It was a “Foyle” lunch, of the London kind; and T.S.E. had had to spend many hours in preparing a 10-minute account of himself as a dramatist. Needless to say, he performed this exacting task to admiration. But there [were] no less than three introducers, who took up an awful lot of superfluous time in variously examining T.S.E.’s qualifications as poet and playwright. There was a man named [Philip] Segal, a lecturer at the University, who examined T.S.E. as a poet, not unintelligently but – having too much to say – at break-neck, breathless and almost unintelligible speed. There was Leonard Sach, the leading S.A. play-producer, who had some quite fertile observations to make concerning the use which T.S.E. might make of his own pet mechanism – the open stage. And there was a long, rather dull, oration by a broadcasting pundit, whose name I can’t recall, about radio plays, directed to the aim of persuading T.S.E. to write a play for the radio. T.S.E. did his own stuff beautifully, quite unperturbed.

‘AfterMirrlees, Hopein Stellenbosch;d5 this, T.S.E. was triumphantly driven off to Stellenbosch by Hope Mirrlees; and we returned to our hotel, quite as exhausted as he can have been.

‘I must add, here, that T.S.E. threw himself into our F. & F. activities; and that the least F. & F. can do is to bear his hotel expenses in Durban and Cape Town.’

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,
Fabers, the, model of happiness and respectability, their domestic situation, Faber children to tea chez Eliot, visit TSE at Pike's Farm, compared to the Morleys, closer to TSE than to VHE, 1933 summer holiday with, Ty Glyn Aeron described, request TSE to write play, too absorbed in their children, at the Morleys' party, give anti-Nazi party for author, host poker party, 1934 summer holiday with, take TSE to lunch in Oxford, 1935 summer holiday with, for which the children are bought tent, give party, 1936 summer holiday with, at Morleys' Thanksgiving Day party, sail model boats with TSE, and TSE's foggy adventure, cinema-going with TSE, take TSE to Witch of Edmonton, and Morleys take TSE to pantomime, and TSE attend opening of Ascent of F6, 1937 summer holiday with, and the Bradfield Greek play, School for Scandal with, take TSE to pantomime again, 1938 summer holiday with, 1939 summer holiday with, offer possible wartime refuge, 1940 summer holiday with, host TSE in Hampstead during war, TSE makes bread sauce for, brought vegetables from Shamley, move to Minsted, and TSE attend musical revue, 1941 summer holiday with, Minsted as substitute for nursing-home, trying to sell Welsh home, take TSE to International Squadron, invite TSE to Wales for Christmas, host TSE at Minsted, away fishing in Scotland, mourn TSE's post-war independence, 1947 Minsted summer stay, 1948 Minsted summer stay, host TSE for weekend, on 1950 South Africa trip, on TSE's 1951 Spain trip, 1951 Minsted summer stay, 1952 Minsted summer stay, 1953 Minsted summer stay, on 1953–4 South Africa trip, 35th wedding anniversary weekend,
Mirrlees, Hope, sketched for EH, at the Eliots' tea-party, part of Bloomsbury society, VHE complains about TSE to, dinner in company with, and mother taken sightseeing, ordeal of a walk with, dinner and chess with, and her dachshund, exhausting but pitiable, her mother preferable, her religion, to Mappie as Eleanor Hinkley to Aunt Susie, irritates like Eleanor, indifferent to enlarging her acquaintance, at Shamley, researching in Worthing Public Library, bathing daily at Lee, and TSE judge fancy-dress parade, during TSE's final Shamley Christmas, suffers 'collapse', in Stellenbosch, visits London, go-between in TSE's second marriage,
see also Mirrleeses, the

2.HopeMirrlees, Hope Mirrlees (1887–1978), British poet, novelist, translator and biographer, was to become a close friend of TSE: see Biographical Register.

'On Poetry and Drama', GCF describes TSE delivering,
Parker, Wilfrid, Bishop of Pretoria,

3.WilfridParker, Wilfrid, Bishop of Pretoria Parker (1883–1966): Anglican priest; Bishop of Pretoria, 1933–50. TSE dined with Parker and his wife on Thursday, 18 Feb.

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.

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,