[No surviving envelope]
I have just finished my second speech or lecture for Dublin; andSt. Stephen's Church, Gloucester Roadvestry goings-on;a2 I have about fifteen cheques to make out for Vestry account, andPierce, Ross E.;a2 I must write a letter to my deranged poet from Buffalo before I go to bed,1 and pack in the morning, andJoyce, James'Work in Progress' (afterwards Finnegans Wake);e7conveyed to London by Jolas;a2 tomorrowJolas, Mariadelivers Joyce's 'Work in Progress';a1 book committee and interview Mrs. Jolas who has come over from Paris to bring me Joyce’s ms. ‘Work in Progress’:2 but before I do anything else I must write to my Darling. In all the depression and loneliness that I have of course gone through since you left, there are continual flashes of joy and exaltation and pride in realising at moments quite fully and expandedly all that it means to be YOUR beloved! Theretravels, trips and plansEH's 1934–5 year in Europe;b4EH and TSE's final farewell;f2 are many moments that come back in connexion with this thought, but none more than when you ran back into my room after we had said goodbye, so lovely, and we put our arms round each other for the last time. And don’t you think that every time I look out of that window, through the leafless branches of the tree on the corner, I see you walking on and turning back and waving, and then crossing the street and disappearing? AndHale, Emilyrelationship with TSE;w9as consubstantial union;e3 it is so wonderful to think of the way we have grown into each other, so that I no longer feel that I have any separate existence without you, and that I am only wholly real, and wholly explained with you, my precious one. I shall keep telling you, from time to time, of these glorious feelings and thoughts, so that you may know that during this absent time it is not merely suffering and deprivation for me, but also a deep and humble and thankful feeling of union which no separation can destroy. What you have given me, and what you give me daily in thought, and afresh with every letter, is something for which I feel daily gratitude. You have only to write me as dear and beautiful letters as those I have been getting (I do not expect one tomorrow, and how impatient I shall be to get back to London in the hope of finding another!). Dear, I can say in return that I do not enjoy any life, ‘except in the shelter of your love and your arms’; and I also cannot really rest apart from you – but how much I prefer that to being able to rest alone! My Emily.
ISeaverns, Helen;a1 wrote some days ago to Mrs. Seaverns,3 to say that I was very busy until my return from Ireland, but that I should suggest myself for dinner after that, and I had a very cordial reply. IGwynne, M. BrookeEH puts in TSE's way;a1 have also had a letter from Miss Brooke Gwynne, asking me whether I would come and talk to her seminar on the teaching of poetry, and I have said I would, but would she come to tea (suggesting dates after my return) and talk to me about it first.4
No, it can’t ever be as important for me to be as well dressed as you: but I have bought two warm shirts, and some thick socks, and a hot water bottle to go to Ireland with. MissO'Donovan, Brigid;a9 O’D. (very interested naturally in my visiting her ancestral country) hasMorrell, Lady Ottolineissues TSE with Irish introductions;f8 boughtHutchinson, Maryissues Irish introductions to TSE;b6 mySpeaight, Robertissues TSE with Irish introductions;b5 ticket and Otto and Bobby Speaight and Mary H. have sent me letters of introduction which I probably shall not have time to use.
My tiny Christmas tree stands on top of a bookcase, with the little dog guarding the wishbone in his sash, and the Bull Roarer beyond him.
I shall take great care of myself, I assure you.
IHale, Irene (née Baumgras);b2 must write to Aunt ‘Ireen’. IWolcott, Roger;a5 am glad to hear that Roger has improved. There was room for it: he seemed to me a lummox; andWolcott, Edith Prescotta grandmotherly masterpiece;a1 his mother was such a dear little lady.
SinceSmith CollegeEH considers matronship at;a4 you wrote (on the 9th) you have been to visit Mrs. Harris (I don’t believe that’s no sich a person) andHale, Emilyas teacher;w1possibly at Smith;b9 to Smith College, and I am longing to hear your report of your talk with the Warden (Who’s she?). YouNeilson, Elizabeth Muser;a1 knowNeilson, William Allanfamiliar of Sheff's;a2 that Neilson, the President, is an old crony of Sheff, and was always very nice to me: he is Scotch, and his wife is German and temperamental.5 AllSheffield, Ada Eliot (TSE's sister)as sounding-board for EH's career;e8 the more reason for consulting Ada and Sheff before accepting or rejecting the possibility of a matronship there. But I very much incline to the idea myself, especially if there were any possibility of worming into dramatic work on the side.
I shallEnglandEnglish traditions;c4the death of George V;a7 sendGeorge Vdies;a2 you to-day’s Times and Standard, which you may not otherwise see.6 The death of a King seems to have a bearing on the destiny of the nation, and of every individual encompassing it: as most people I think are subconsciously aware: it seems to end an era, and launch us into something unknown and terrifying. IEdward VIIImysteriously unmarried;a1 wonder what ‘Edward VIII’ is really like: he is the more surrounded by mystery because of being unmarried. I rather dislike going to Ireland at such a time. I shall be curious however to know whether any members of their Government attend either of the meetings, as I have a few polite hints to make about excessive nationalism and provincialism. The pill will be gilded by allusions to my American background.
Now, my Love, you must not hope to hear from me again until I write on Monday evening the 27th; though if it is possible I shall send you a cable from Dublin on Thursday. – It is so glorious to be able to say ‘you must not hope to hear from me’ – I mean, to assume quite openly that you do want eagerly to hear from me as often as possible. Am I being vain? If I ever am, you always have it in your power to abase me with a word.
I wrote last on the 19th; before that on the 16th.
1.See letter to Ross E. Pierce, 21 Jan. 1936 (Letters 8, 49–50).
2.GeoffreyFaber, Geoffreyrelieved that 'Work in Progress' progresses;e3n Faber to Frank Morley, 23 Jan. 1936: ‘It will interest you to know that Mrs Jolas, the wife of the Editor of “Transition” turned up suddenly yesterday evening with part 3 of “Work in Progress” all complete. That is to say, part 3 is complete; part 2 is said to be complete all except for a very little which Joyce is said to be working at now. This seems to be a case for Hurrah’ (E6/48).
MariaJolas, Maria Jolas (1893–1987): see profile in vol. I of The Letters of Samuel Beckett, vol. 1: 1929–1940, ed. Martha Dow Fehsenfeld and Lois More Overbeck (2009).
The publisher and bookseller Sylvia Beach (Joyce’s patron), Shakespeare and Company (1960), 148: ‘Certainly one of the best things in Joyce’s life was the friendship and collaboration of Maria and Eugene Jolas [1894–1952]. From the time they first undertook to publish his work until his death, they rendered him every service and thought no sacrifice too great.
‘Eugene Jolas, with his three mother tongues, English, French, and German (he was from Lorraine), and James Joyce, the multi-linguist, set out to revolutionize the English language … The reinforcement brought by Jolas was a godsend to Joyce, who was feeling rather lonely with his one-man revolution till [Jolas’s magazine] transition came along.’
3.HelenSeaverns, Helen Seaverns, widow of the American-born businessman and Liberal MP, Joel Herbert Seaverns: see Biographical Register.
4.M. BrookeGwynne, M. Brooke Gwynne, University of London Institute of Education – ‘a Training College for Graduate students’ – invited TSE on 19 Jan. to participate in their Weds.-morning seminar: ‘Emily Hale suggested that you might possibly consent to come to the Institute to talk to our students; otherwise I should have not felt justified in asking you … The teaching of poetry is the subject most hotly discussed & the subject we should like you to choose if possible.’
5.ElizabethNeilson, Elizabeth Muser Muser Neilson.
6.‘Death of The King: A Peaceful Ending at Midnight: Royal Family’s Long Vigil’, The Times, Tues., 21 Jan. 1936, 12. George V had died at 11:55 pm on Monday, 20 Jan. (However, as it was revealed years later, the king’s physician, Lord Dawson of Penn, had in fact hastened his demise: it was important that the announcement should be made in the morning newspapers.)
‘Special Edition’, Evening Standard, 21 Jan.: ‘Passing of the King: World Tributes to a Great Monarch: King Edward VIII. at Accession Council To-day: Plans for the Lying-in-State.’ There followed numerous pages of loyal tributes and reviews. ‘Final Night’ edition: ‘King Edward VIII. to be Proclaimed To-morrow: New King attends Accession Council: Plans for the Funeral and Lying-in-State: Court Mourning for Nine Months.’
11.GeoffreyFaber, Geoffrey Faber (1889–1961), publisher and poet: see Biographical Register.
4.M. BrookeGwynne, M. Brooke Gwynne, University of London Institute of Education – ‘a Training College for Graduate students’ – invited TSE on 19 Jan. to participate in their Weds.-morning seminar: ‘Emily Hale suggested that you might possibly consent to come to the Institute to talk to our students; otherwise I should have not felt justified in asking you … The teaching of poetry is the subject most hotly discussed & the subject we should like you to choose if possible.’
3.IreneHale, Irene (née Baumgras) Hale, née Baumgras, widow of Philip Hale, celebrated as the prolific and influential music critic of the Boston Herald. Irene Hale, who was herself an accomplished pianist, had studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where she gained the Springer Gold Medal 1881, and continued with her studies in Europe under Raif and Moritz Mosckowski: she later wrote music under the name Victor Rene.
3.MaryHutchinson, Mary Hutchinson (1889–1977), literary hostess and author: see Biographical Register.
MariaJolas, Maria Jolas (1893–1987): see profile in vol. I of The Letters of Samuel Beckett, vol. 1: 1929–1940, ed. Martha Dow Fehsenfeld and Lois More Overbeck (2009).
1.JamesJoyce, James Joyce (1882–1941), Irish novelist, playwright, poet; author of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), Ulysses (1922), Finnegans Wake (1939).
4.LadyMorrell, Lady Ottoline Ottoline Morrell (1873–1938), hostess and patron: see Biographical Register.
8.WilliamNeilson, William Allan Allan Neilson (1869–1946), Scottish-American scholar, educator, lexicographer, author (works include studies of Shakespeare and Robert Burns; editions of Shakespeare): President of Smith College, 1917–39. See Margaret Farrand Thorp, Neilson of Smith (1956).
3.BrigidO'Donovan, Brigid O’Donovan, TSE’s secretary from Jan. 1935 to Dec. 1936: see Biographical Register.
3.HelenSeaverns, Helen Seaverns, widow of the American-born businessman and Liberal MP, Joel Herbert Seaverns: see Biographical Register.
2.AdaSheffield, Ada Eliot (TSE's sister) Eliot Sheffield (1869–1943), eldest of the seven Eliot children; author of The Social Case History: Its Construction and Content (1920) and Social Insight in Case Situations (1937): see Biographical Register.
2.RobertSpeaight, Robert Speaight (1904–77), actor, producer and author, was to create the role of Becket in Murder in the Cathedral in 1935: see Biographical Register.