[Villa Pestillini, 32 via della Piazzola, Firenze]
YourThurber, JamesMy Life and Hard Times;a1 letter of the 3d arrived to-day: thank you. IdogsJames Thurber's dog;a9 hope the Thurber Dog (Ireading (TSE's)Thurber's My Life and Hard Times;d7 have just read with pleasure his ‘My Life and Hard Times[’],1 whichMorrell, Julian;a3 Julian Goodman lent me) does not represent your idea of the kind of Dog you want, becausedogsAberdeen Terrier;b4TSE against;a2 I don’t hold with these waddling ungraceful snapping barking Aberdeens, too heavy for lap-dogs, and too low and clumsy for good walking companions; thedogsDachshund;b9among TSE's preferred short-legged breeds;a1 onlydogsJack Russell;c2among TSE's preferred short-legged breeds;a1 nice shortlegged dogs I know are dachshunds and (sporting) Jock Russells. I like a dog that can move rapidly without looking foolish. However. NoRothenstein, Sir Williamwrites Manning's obituary;a8, Will Rothenstein wrote the obituary,2 he had known him longer than anybody in England. IManning, Frederichis works commended to EH;a4 should like to let you have Manning’s books, when you want them – they are here. ITrouncer, Margaretwhich JDH's friend reads;a3 thought I told you about Mrs. Trouncer and her Louise de la Valliere. The latter has gone to Roland de Margerie, a friend of John Hayward’s, first secretary of the French Embassy,3 to read for us. NOMurder in the Cathedralwhich proves unpopular;a8, nobody else likes my Ecclesiastes title either, and one is still wanting. I agree that the title should not be obscure. It is difficult to find a plain one that does not suggest either a detective story or an Elizabethan tragedy. YourCaetani, Marguerite (née Chapin)lacks definite nationality;b3 comment on Marguerite de Bassiano IS a comfort in my distress. But she was an American brought up wholly in Paris, so is neither Italian, American, French or English; and I think it is bad for people not to be really of any nationality: she is rather to be pitied. I think if you don’t belong anywhere your standards may not be so definite. IFranceParis;b7Anglo-French society;a5 imagine she has mixed with a fashionable but mixed Anglo-Franco-American society in Paris, not really the best of anywhere – the Polignacs and the Murats4 and such like. ButCaetani, Marguerite (née Chapin)saga of unsettled debts;a8 having gone so far I can’t go back: I mean that if she does nothing for my bookseller I can’t have anything more to do with her. OldChapin, Samuel;a1 Deacon Chapin, in his sugarloaf hat outside the Springfield Town Hall, might have had strong views on the subject.5
I am glad of the good weather, and you writing out of doors. Good weather here too, the last few days, bright and cold and sunny. I shan’t speak of Claremont again until you have heard from Jaqua: time enough then.
I9 Grenville Place, LondonEH's sojourns at;b2 have had a thought about making it possible for you to come to town occasionally without its costing you too much. Why shouldn’t I lend you my rooms for a night or so at a time and go to my club? That will be no deprivation, for actually I am more comfortable indeed more luxurious there, and it is a pleasant change; and that would cost me <5s.> less than a hotel would cost you. I would arrange with the people here before hand, and leave my key for you; and Elizabeth would draw your bath and bring your breakfast, and any other meals you would have out with me, except when you had someone better to lunch or dine with. This is a mixed household; there is the vicar and two curates, and there is Mrs. Deane. At present there is a very bad cook, who is here because the vicar befriended her when she had twins that she shouldn’t have had; but he says he is getting a better one shortly. The only real out is the railway; you might not be able to sleep not being used to it, and coming from the quiet country; still, you could keep the double window shut and open the door into the sitting room and have a front window open there. I do think this is worth thinking of: you would only have your return fare to consider.
PlayMurder in the CathedralTSE on writing;a4 exactly three quarters done, but first part has got to have some alterations of course. ThereMurder in the Cathedralabandoned Mercury Theatre premiere;d6imperilled;a5 isMercury Theatre, Londonseason in financial straits;a5 someCunard, Nancypossible patron for Mercury Theatre season;a3 doubt about getting enough money to float the London venture, but I hope that will be settled. YeatsYeats, William Butler ('W. B.');a9 is at present unfortunately ill in Dublin; else he could probably get the necessary guarantee from Lady Cunard.
Youtravels, trips and plansEH's 1934–5 year in Europe;b4TSE coordinating with EH's return;c8 say ‘next month now’. But will it be? I mean, if you go straight to Campden on the 8th, and on the 12th to France for a fortnight, have I any hope of seeing you until May? Unless, that is, I can see you off to Paris at the station.
1.James Thurber, My Life and Hard Times (autobiography, 1933).
2.‘Mr Frederic Manning’, The Times, 26 Feb. 1935.
3.Ronald de Margerie (1899–1990), cultured French diplomat; nephew of Edmond de Rostand (creator of Cyrano de Bergerac), and close friend of the theologian Teilhard de Chardin; First Secretary at the French Embassy, London – where he established good relations with numerous politicians including Winston Churchill (and was later adviser on foreign policy to Charles de Gaulle) – and ultimately French Ambassador to Bonn from 1962.
4.Polignacs: an ancient French noble family, taking its name from the château de Polignac.
The Maison Murat derives from the time of Joachim Murat, King of Naples, 1808–15.
5.MargueriteChapin, Samuel Chapin’s Devon-born ancestor Samuel Chapin (1595–1675), a Protestant non-conformist, settled in 1635 in New England, where he became Selectman of Springfield, Mass. A renowned bronze statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, fixed in the centre of Springfield since 1887, depicts the swaggering Deacon Chapin as ‘The Puritan’.
4.MargueriteCaetani, Marguerite (née Chapin) Caetani, née Chapin (1880–1963) – Princesse di Bassiano – literary patron and editor: see Biographical Register. LéliaCaetani, Lélia Caetani (1913–77), sole daughter, was to marry Hubert Howard (1908–87), a scion of the English Catholic House of Howard, who worked to preserve the Caetani heritage at Rome and at the castle of Sermoneta.
5.MargueriteChapin, Samuel Chapin’s Devon-born ancestor Samuel Chapin (1595–1675), a Protestant non-conformist, settled in 1635 in New England, where he became Selectman of Springfield, Mass. A renowned bronze statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, fixed in the centre of Springfield since 1887, depicts the swaggering Deacon Chapin as ‘The Puritan’.
5.FredericManning, Frederic Manning (1882–1935), Australian writer: see Biographical Register.
4.JulianMorrell, Julian Morrell (1906–89) married Victor Goodman, 1928–46; she subsequently married Igor Vinogradoff (1901–87), son of Sir Paul Vinogradoff (1854–1925), Professor of Roman Law at Oxford.
5.SirRothenstein, Sir William William Rothenstein (1872–1945), artist and administrator: see Biographical Register.
2.MargaretTrouncer, Margaret Trouncer (1903–82), author of A Courtesan of Paradise: The Romantic Story of Louise de la Vallière, Mistress of Louis XIV (F&F, 1936). See http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/18th-december-1982/23/obituary-margaret-trouncer
4.W. B. YeatsYeats, William Butler ('W. B.') (1865–1939), Irish poet and playwright: see Biographical Register.