[240 Crescent St., Northampton, Mass.]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
The Criterion
13 April 1937
My dearest Girl,

I had expected to have the whole evening to write to you by the Queen Mary, and I have exactly half an hour. The rest of this letter will be taken up in explanation of why that is. WeFlat 3, 11 Emperor's GateTSE's initial impressions of;a4 moved from Grenville Place, round the corner to 11 Emperor’s Gate, yesterday. That is, I went out in the morning, after doing a partial packing up of my goods, andAll Souls Club, Thediscusses adult baptism;a7 after a day’s work attended a dinner of the All Souls Club, atLe Quesne, Charles Thomas, KC;a1 which our Baptist member, Mr. Le Quesne K.C.,1 expounded the Baptist theory of adult baptism, to the equal astonishment of Anglicans and Methodists, toDuncan-Jones, Revd Arthur Stuart, Dean of Chichesterwhere he speaks on adult baptism;a4 whom it was as unfamiliar and strange as it was to me – our Duncan-Jones had a good deal to say – and returned to my new abode at 11 in the evening. IOxford and Cambridge ClubTSE's temporary bathroom;c1 am not yet sure what I think of it, and everything is too confused for a fair opinion yet. In the morning I found the bathroom full of plumbers, so after doing some vestry business I went off to the club, with my shaving tackle etc. in my pocket, and had a bath there before lunch. I may do the same tomorrow. Then I came back after my day at the office (andMorrell, Lady Ottolinecomplains of Yeats over tea;g3 tea with Ottoline, who is in bed with neuritis in her legs – I did not know that people could get neuritis in the legs – she explained at length why she doesn’t want to see Yeats, it is a very complicated story) to find that there was no dinner here, so I dashed back to the club again. ThereHoskyns, Edwyn Clementand the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle;a4 Icheesediscussed with Hoskyns;a8 fell into the arms of the Revd. Sir Clement Hoskyns, who talked at length about cheese, cricket, and theology, and his next book which we are to publish on the Crucifixion and Resurrection:2 so that I did not get back until after ten, and then had a struggle with the gas meter in the bedroom and had to call Elizabeth to help me, and so did not get started on this letter until seven minutes ago. So this will only be a greeting, instead of a proper letter. IFlat 3, 11 Emperor's GateEH stays in;a5 have marked the 20th 21st June in my diary to keep them free. I hope I can give you these rooms – in a week I shall see what the situation is here, but apparently if you have my rooms you will be alone on the floor with Elizabeth – the vicar is below – I understood that the funny little secretary, Miss Cowan, was to be snuggled in here too, but I haven’t seen her and I don’t see any room for her – she is very refined and prim, and used to run into me on the stairs, usually carrying a tray or something, and always said: ‘Oh! Mr. Eliot! I’m SO sorry – I always seem to be barging into you!’ I think we will just dine quietly at a restaurant, and if it is warm and dry perhaps take a stroll in the evening; and not go to a theatre or anything unless you stay two nights. I cannot really believe that I am going to have you in London again, and sit beside you in a taxi, and across the table in a restaurant, and eventually see you off to Campden at Paddington … My dear, my Dear. IFamily Reunion, TheTSE on writing;b4 have finished the first draft of the first act of my play, and I hope I may do the second act before you come: becauseBrowne, Elliott Martin1939 production of The Family Reunion;c1due to be sent script;a1 IDukes, Ashleyamong Family Reunion's first readers;c8 don’t want to show it to you or Browne or Dukes until I have written both parts. And after that the painful business of re-writing according to the criticism of those who really understand the theatre. IHayward, Johnin second line of play-readers;g6 amMorley, Frank Vigorpotential reader for Family Reunion;g7 willingFaber, Geoffreyin line to read Family Reunion;f5 to show the first act by itself to people like Hayward and Morley and Faber (who by the way, is in Wales in bed with MUMPS)3 who are not people of the theatre: but not to you and Dukes and Browne, with whom I shall have a great struggle to preserve any of my design against superior knowledge of the stage. So now I must stop, and I will write by the next boat, I hope in less disorder and at more leisure.

My Emilie’s devoted Tom.

1.CharlesLe Quesne, Charles Thomas, KC Thomas Le Quesne (1885–1954), Jersey-born Liberal Party politician and barrister: King’s Counsel, 1925. President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, 1946–7.

2.In the event, Crucifixion–Resurrection: The Pattern of the Theology and Ethics of the New Testament (with Francis Noel Davey) was to be published posthumously by SPCK (1981).

3.Frank Morley to Christopher Morley, 3 May 1937: ‘[Faber] inconveniently contracted (or expanded) mumps – damn painful I understand to a grownup: after doing a one-night gland all round goes to the balls & raises hell: poor Faber can hardly walk: & to cheer himself up has bought a new car’ (Columbia).

All Souls Club, The, TSE joins, first dinner with, discussion vague at second dinner, even vaguer at third, to discuss 'Church, Community and State', discusses adult baptism, discusses the Edinburgh Conference, discusses church music, discusses war policy, discusses Encyclical, and Revd Duncan-Jones,
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.

cheese, chocolate-coloured at Norske Klub, Old Cheshire, which TSE compares to Double Gloucester and Leicester, Wensleydale 'Prince Consort' to 'Queen' Cheshire, cold-curing, smell-restoring Limburger, brie at Prunier's, cheese-eating ruined by perfume, discussed with Hoskyns, TSE's first Old Blue Cottenham, TSE's cheese-counsellor, Port Salut, letter to Times on Stilton, and the privations of war, EH sends TSE for Christmas,
Dukes, Ashley, described by Yeats to TSE, approaches Doone over Mercury Theatre season, lines up Mercury Murder revival, with which he is pleased, his ambitions for Murder, which Brace upsets, instructed as to Murder New York negotiations, hustling in New York, from where he reports, agrees about Speaight's decline, explains miscarriage of 1936 American production, at 100th performance of Murder, latest plans for Murder, revised plans for New York, dares to call TSE in morning, TSE's royalty arrangement with, policing pirate productions of Murder, discusses Murder's America rights, full of grand desgins, takes Browne into partnership, on Murder's Abdication Crisis resonance, among Family Reunion's first readers, plans for Murder, American Murder tour, against Family Reunion as title, pleased with Family Reunion fragment, sent full Family Reunion draft, lets EH down, consulted over Gielgud contract, on Gielgud and Family Reunion, negotiating with Saint-Denis, less persuaded by Family Reunion, optimistic on Family Reunion transfer, instructed on Family Reunion licensing, fields Orson Welles enquiry, suggests wartime Murder revival, which he mounts without consulting TSE, attempting season of miniature operas, submits theatrical reminiscences to TSE, and Murder film rights, book launch for memoirs, reports on TSE's continental productions, gives Garrick Club dinner for TSE, takes full control of Mercury, accompanies TSE to Germany, La Mandragola, The Scene is Changed, Too Many Twins,
see also Dukes, the

4.AshleyDukes, Ashley Dukes (1885–1959), theatre manager, playwright, critic, translator, adapter, author; from 1933, owner of the Mercury Theatre, London: see Biographical Register.

Duncan-Jones, Revd Arthur Stuart, Dean of Chichester, to lunch with EH, member of All Souls Club, where he speaks on adult baptism, leads discussion on church music, attacks government, with TSE over South Indian Church, dies, TSE's memorial on,

7.RevdDuncan-Jones, Revd Arthur Stuart, Dean of Chichester Arthur Stuart Duncan-Jones (1879–1955) held various incumbencies, including St Paul’s, Knightsbridge, London, before becoming Dean of Chichester, 1929–55.

Faber, Geoffrey, made TSE's literary executor, described for EH, as friend, overawed by Joyce, recounts the Eliots' dinner-party, discusses international situation with TSE, his annual effort to diet, introduced to TSE by Whibley, favours TSE taking Norton Professorship, suggests garden-party for TSE, mislays key to Hale correspondence, writes to TSE about separation, which he helps TSE over, blesses Scotland tour with whisky, victim of Holmesian prank, favours 'The Archbishop Murder Case', Times articles on Newman, Russell Square proclaims his gentlemanly standards, forgives TSE and Morley's prank, as tennis-player, champion of Haig biography, social insecurities, and the Faber family fortune, advertises 'Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats', at lavish lunch for Dukes, relieved that 'Work in Progress' progresses, and JDH, needs persuading over Nightwood, on Edward VIII's abdication, Old Buffer's Dinner for, wins at Monopoly, and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, thrilled by complimentary tickets, The Family Reunion described to, in line to read Family Reunion, has mumps, composes Alcaics from sickbed, at TSE and JDH's dinner, shares EH's Family Reunion criticism, on TSE's dinner-party bearing, discusses F&F's wartime plans, on meeting Ralph Hodgson, asks TSE to stay on during war, takes TSE to Oxford, argues with Major-General Swinton, and Purchase Tax exertions, and Literary Society membership, TSE's wartime intimacy with, drops teeth on beach, offers criticisms of 'Rudyard Kipling', falsely promised Literary Society membership, but eventually elected, helps revise TSE's Classical Association address, reports to Conversative Education Committee, deputed to America on publishing business, returned from America, Ada too ill to see, discusses National Service on BBC, depended on for breakfast, as fire-watching companion, and TSE rearrange attic at 23 Russell Square, recommends blind masseuse to TSE, in nursing home, and the Spender–Campbell spat, on TSE's Order of Merit, approached for essay on TSE, seeks to protect TSE's serenity, as Captain Kidd, wins fancy-dress prize, TSE's trip to Spain with, and National Book League, receives knighthood, on TSE's paroxysmal tachycardia, dies, his death,
see also Fabers, the

11.GeoffreyFaber, Geoffrey Faber (1889–1961), publisher and poet: see Biographical Register.

Family Reunion, The, and TSE as Orestes, plot sought for, progress stalled, referred to as 'Orestes play', written against countdown to war, should be artistically a stretch, plot still not settled on, begun, compared to Murder, TSE on writing, described (mid-composition), and Gunn's Carmina Gadelica, described to GCF, EH questions Harry's entrance, draft read to Martin Brownes, projected autumn 1938 production, depletes TSE, and Mourning Becomes Electra, its Greek inheritance, alternatively 'Follow the Furies', first draft promised to EH, as inspired by Tenebrae, being rewritten, work suspended till summer, fair copy being typed, waiting on Browne and Dukes, 'Follow the Furies' quashed by EH, aspires to be Chekhovian, Dukes keen to produce, criticised by Martin Browne, under revision, submitted to EH's theatrical wisdom, for which TSE credits her, possible John Gielgud production, Gielgud-level casting, Browne's final revisions, with the printers, Henry loaned draft, Donat and Saint-Denis interested, in proof, progress towards staging stalled, Saint-Denis interest tempered, possible Tyrone Guthrie production, possible limited Mercury run, its defects, publication scheduled, first draft sent to EH, Michael Redgrave interested in, March 1939 Westminster Theatre production, waits on terms, rehearsals for, which are photographed, opening night contemplated without EH, last-minute flutters, opening night, reception, coming off, TSE's final visit to, Dukes bullish on New York transfer, EH spurs TSE's reflections on, and Otway's Venice Preserv'd, American reception, and Orson Welles, F&F's sales, 1940 American production, Henry harps on the personal aspect, its cheerfulness, EH acknowledges part in, 1943 ADC production, in Dadie Rylands's hands, described, certain lines expressing TSE's frustrations, EH discusses with pupils, plays in Zurich, 1946 Birmingham production, 1946 Mercury revival, rehearsals for, opening night, TSE attends again in company, Spanish translation of, VHE's death calls to mind, its deficiencies, BBC Gielgud broadcast version, first aired, to be repeated, goes nominally with The Cocktail Party, Swedish National Theatre production, compared to Cocktail Party, EH's response to, more 'personal' than Cocktail Party, performed in Göttingen, 1950 Düsseldorf production, 1953 New York production vetoed, 1956 Phoenix Theatre revival, described, Peter Brook congratulated on, Martin Browne seeks MS of,
Flat 3, 11 Emperor's Gate, and East Coker, TSE moving to, described, TSE's initial impressions of, EH stays in, makes TSE ill, compared to Grenville Place, TSE's situation at, made homelier, drawing desk acquired for, redecorated with EH's presents, and TSE's wartime routine, St. Stephen's keeps TSE at, water pipes freeze, shut up during Blitz, date of TSE's removal from,
Hayward, John, in TSE's thumbnail description, his condition and character, what TSE represents to, VHE complains about TSE to, TSE's new chess-playing neighbour, meets EH over tea, hosts TSE, GCF and de la Mare, on EH, on EH (to TSE), gives TSE cigars for Christmas, calls EH TSE's 'sister', and the Dobrées on Boxing Day, and TSE play a prank on guests, backstage at The Times, taken for walk, on Jenny de Margerie, Empson, TSE and Sansoms call on, evening with Spender, Jennings and, exchanges Christmas presents with TSE, exchanges rare books with TSE, sends luxuries to convalescent TSE, TSE's only regular acquaintance, dines with TSE and Camerons, lent Williams's Cranmer, accompanied to the Fabers' party, hosts discussion about Parisian Murder, inspects French translation of Murder, and TSE's Old Buffers' Dinner, gives TSE bath-mitts, given wine for Christmas, one of TSE's dependents, at Savile Club Murder dinner, Empson takes TSE on to see, possible housemate, in second line of play-readers, walked round Earl's Court, and Bradfield Greek play, and TSE drive to Tandys, and TSE give another party, corrects TSE's Anabase translation, watches television with TSE, Christmas Day with, introduced to Djuna Barnes, meets Christina Morley, walk round Brompton Cemetery with, Hyde Park excursion with, moving house, at his birthday-party, honoured at F&F, displaced to the Rothschilds, where TSE visits him, among TSE's closest friends, his conversation missed, the prospect of Christmas without, excursions to Cambridge to visit, 'my best critic', gives TSE American toilet-paper, helps TSE finish Little Gidding, possible post-war housemate, protector of TSE's literary remains, foreseeably at Merton Hall, discusses plays with TSE, flat-hunting with, and Carlyle Mansions, his furniture, installed at Carlyle Mansions, further handicapped without telephone, undermines TSE's aura of poetic facility, irritates except in small doses, helps with adjustment of TSE's OM medal, at the Brighton Cocktail Party, hounded by Time, quid pro quo with TSE, arranges first-night party for Cocktail Party, arranges Confidential Clerk cast dinner, and TSE's Selected Prose, and TSE entertained by Yehudi Menuhin,

11.JohnHayward, John Davy Hayward (1905–65), editor and critic: see Biographical Register.

Hoskyns, Edwyn Clement, among TSE's Corpus 'friends', and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, talks cheese, cricket, theology,

8.EdwynHoskyns, Edwyn Clement Clement Hoskyns, 13th Baronet (1884–1937), theologian; Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was successively Dean of Chapel, Librarian and President. His works in biblical theology include The Fourth Gospel (1940) and Crucifixion-Resurrection (1981); and he published an English translation of Karl Barth’s Epistle to the Romans (1933). See Gordon S. Wakefield, ‘Hoskyns and Raven: The Theological Issue’, Theology, Nov. 1975, 568–76; Wakefield, ‘Edwyn Clement Hoskyns’, in E. C. Hoskyns and F. N. Davey, Crucifixion-Resurrection (1981); and R. E. Parsons, Sir Edwyn Hoskyns as Biblical Theologian (1985).

Le Quesne, Charles Thomas, KC,

1.CharlesLe Quesne, Charles Thomas, KC Thomas Le Quesne (1885–1954), Jersey-born Liberal Party politician and barrister: King’s Counsel, 1925. President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, 1946–7.

Morley, Frank Vigor, TSE on sharing an office with, Criterion monthly meeting regular, returns from New York, indispensable in proofing Selected Essays, Criterion lunch in company with, joins farewell lunch for Hodgson, offers TSE post-separation refuge, acts for TSE during separation, spirits TSE away to Surrey, on TSE at Pike's Farm, as châtelain, acting as TSE's courier, on TSE's relationship to children, music-hall evening with, suggests tour of Scotland, which he plans out, suggests trip to Paris, thanks Joyce for hospitality, on TSE's 1933 tour of Scotland, negotiating for Ulysses, his absence means more work, treasured and missed, gets on famously with Ada, mercifully returned to F&F, produces birthday-cake, peacekeeper between Rowse and Smyth, in on Sherlock Holmes prank, encourages TSE to go to Finland, on TSE's 1935 tour of Scotland, and TSE drink GCF's whisky, takes TSE to Wimbledon, monopolises typewriter for joint story, as tennis-player, overawes GCF, TSE and EH's elected emergency go-between, good with thrusting young authors, backs publication of Nightwood, helps deal with Joyce, naturally projects strength, his French, escapes Criterion gathering to catch last train home, unusually subdued among the French, submits his Johnson Society paper, depends on TSE, on TSE's 1937 tour of Scotland, which Morley describes, two nights' sleep in a caravan with, potential reader for Family Reunion, his father dies, Spender discussed with, sends TSE corrected Anabasis, heads for New York and Baltimore, his energy, returns from America, visiting dying mother, shoulders burden of EP, insufficiently honours EP, Boutwood Lectures submitted to, accepts Harcourt Brace position, what his leaving F&F will mean, taken to tea with Woolfs, remembers EH taking priority, first wartime letter from, which reports on TSE's family, sounds depressed in America, sounds less depressed to GCF, among TSE's closest friends, his conversation missed, on Christian Society's American reception, suspected of indiscretion, EH explains 'Defence of the Islands' to, indifferent to Cats, entrusted with emergency Dry Salvages, America's effect on, gives Henry MS of 'Yeats', suggests 'Night Music' over 'Kensington Quartets', Ada too ill to see, his use of 'poised', puts TSE up in New York, on TSE's 1947 New York stay, presently unemployed, but inherits Graham Greene's job,
see also Morleys, the

4.FrankMorley, Frank Vigor Vigor Morley (1899–1980), American publisher and author; a founding editor of F&F, 1929–39: see Biographical Register.

Morrell, Lady Ottoline, on Dr Roger Vittoz, chez Eliot to meet Nora Joyce, on tea with the Eliots, first impression of Joyce, on TSE as 'modern', on the Eliots and the Hinkleys, the Eliots to tea with, which she records, invited to dinner chez Eliot, which she describes, religion debated at tea given by, where Ralph Hodgson meets TSE, on the Eliots' old-fashioned party, described, by request, for EH, met TSE through Bertrand Russell, invites the Eliots to meet Walter de la Mare, gives tea-party for Yeats, at which the Eliots are described, dines chez Eliot, at the Eliots' tea party, lightning rod for VHE's misinformation, stirred up by Gordon George, attacks After Strange Gods, on the gralloching of After Strange Gods, on TSE as friend, gives TSE vintage jewellery tips, invites EH and TSE to tea, on EH, discusses Yeats with TSE, at Sweeney Agonistes, gives tea-party attended by EH, requests tête-à-tête with TSE, and the Group Theatre, to visit Viceroy of India, departs for India, pushiness in medical matters, dressing Indian on her return, intimidates GCF, EH invited to tea with, petitioned on Barker's behalf, issues TSE with Irish introductions, debriefed on Ireland, gives TSE customary diary, complains of Yeats over tea, between convalescence and Italy, and Dr Karl Martin, dies, TSE her final guest,
see also Morrells, the

4.LadyMorrell, Lady Ottoline Ottoline Morrell (1873–1938), hostess and patron: see Biographical Register.

Oxford and Cambridge Club, Richmond puts TSE up for, thus becomes TSE's new club, TSE to oppose motion allowing smoking in library, considered 'home', winningly anti-social, intended 1933 homecoming refuge, fortuitously closing, its indispensability, TSE's London perch, TSE's costly wine-menu mistake, Perkinses and EH entertained at, graced by Old Cheshire Cheese, unfortunately closed, TSE's acting barbers, keeps TSE warm and fed, resort of TSE's free weekends, currently stocking Old Cheshire Cheese, TSE's temporary bathroom, during 1937 Coronation, changing of guard at, under rationing, during the Blitz, TSE again perched at, keeps TSE warm,