[22 Paradise Rd., Northampton, Mass.]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
The Criterion
8 October 1937
My Dearest,

I am vexed by not catching an earlier boat than this, but I have had a very full week. First, your long letter, or journal, arrived on Monday and gave me much comfort – incidentally to know that you had changed into a cabin to yourself in a better class; and this morning your first letter. I shall not expect any letter of any length for some time again, as you must be very busy indeed. Your long letter was full of good matter, and the best substitute for your presence that I could ask for. ICharles Eliot Norton Lectures (afterwards The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism)seem intemperate on further reflection;d2 am running through it again now – yes, I agree that the reference to Norton was very ill-timed and placed – but I dislike, and would suppress if I could, all the lectures I wrote that year – there is a kind of intemperate feverish aggressiveness about them, out of relation to the subject matter, that spells an abnormal state.1 I hope that in some ways – I know, not in all – I have improved since that year – but I hope I have become somewhat more gentle. A certain amount of success, and a life of comparative serenity, is good for one. ITandy, GeoffreyTSE's stylistic influence discerned in;b9 had not realised that Tandy’s style reflected mine at all (that is a kind of thing it is always difficult to see for oneself) but I can see how it might be so. AsRead, Herbertclashes with TSE in Criterion;b7 for Read, I agree that was not thrashed out satisfactorily – for one thing, I did not want, as editor, to write a reply longer than his letter. ButGermanyunder Nazism;b4 my point is, that if that sort of action was calculated to ‘bring the Germans to their senses’ I should feel it my duty; but as it merely stiffens and incenses them, and makes them feel (rightly or wrongly) that they are being preached to by folk no better than themselves who don’t understand their difficulties anyway, I deplore it. That is not to suggest that people as individuals should conceal their opinions about German behaviour. But I feel also that English opinion is apt to be one-sided, and that the people who cry loudest about Germany are often those who have preferred to turn a blind eye to persecutions in Russia – and I do think the English have a very irritating way of offering moral instruction to other nations – and I am not sure about the goings on on the Afghan frontier.2 NowFamily Reunion, TheEH questions Harry's entrance;b9 about Harry’s entrance – I am struck by what you say, and will certainly raise the point, to see how it strikes other theatrical people, when I have the manuscript complete. What I had meant was that he had noticed from outside that the room was in full view, so that that would be his first thought on entering. But I don’t know that that will work – very likely the audience needs to get a good look at a leading character on his first appearance, before he goes into violent action. I'Development of Shakespeare's Verse, The'composition and revision;a3 have nearly finished the Shakespeare – only a couple of pages of summing up to do now, one morning’s work. I think I will have a few copies made, so as to send you one; because I do not intend to print it for a long time, and I think it is well worth careful revision in the light of criticism and further thought. Then I may use it again as lectures in Paris and Copenhagen if I go there next year. And thank you for your encouragement in this task. As for your own mind, my dear, do not worry or hurry! a little gentle exercise each day – I find that the maximum of real thinking I can do is at most three hours in a day; and the deepest subjects are those to spend least time on at once – because one can only hope to solve the problems in the course of living, and with the grace of God – so long as they are ‘never far’ from the mind.

ITandys, theTSE's Hampton weekends with;a1 had a pleasant weekend with the Tandys and their children – except that on Sunday afternoon he had a B.B.C. acquaintance and his wife over from Hampstead, and they stayed to supper, and were rather uninteresting people, and I felt that that part of the time was rather a waste. IMorley, Frank Vigor;g9 have had to dine with Morley and his parents, who were leaving for Baltimore – andReads, the;a2 with the Reads last night, which is always rather an effort – andBabbitt, Dora D.;a3 to-day I take Mrs. Irving Babbitt3 to lunch (she returns to Cambridge tomorrow) andSalazar, António de OliveiraF&F to publish book by;a1 then have an interview with my Portuguese politicians about the Salazar book,4 andde la Mares, theTSE's dread of visiting;a3 then be transported to the De la Mares’ which I rather dread.5 They have a rather grand manor house in Hertfordshire, I believe, and Mrs. de la Mare’s grandfather was the Earl of Buckinghamshire, andWoolfs, thecompared to the de la Mares;d3 itTandys, theversus the de la Mares;a9 all sounds rather pretentious, unlike the simplicity of Woolfs and Tandys. (I don’t mind staying with really grand people, now and again, but I am not so happy with the betwixt and between). But they are very nice in their way, and he is a colleague, so it is a kind of diplomatic courtesy on both sides.

My dear, I am not likely to get used to your being so far away from me – the only thing I can agreeably think at the moment is that I am three weeks nearer to seeing you again. But I want so often during the day to take your head on my shoulder and rest you – and myself.

IThorp, Margaret (née Farrand)Criterion review of her book;b5 think Margaret Thorp should be pleased with the review of the Kingsley book6 (you shall be on the free list again, I shall see to that) butDunn, E. C.;a1 alas for poor Miss Dunn,7 my reviewer (a very competent Shakespeare specialist) who had several Shakespeare books sent him, has discarded hers as not really worth the space.

IPerkinses, the;g3 have heard nothing from the Perkins’s lately, and should like to know their plans.

to Emilie from her Tom

1.The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism: TSE’s Norton Lectures at Harvard.

2.Up to 60,000 troops of the British Indian Army were fighting local tribesmen in the so-called Waziristan Campaign during 1936–8.

3.Dora D. Babbitt (1877–1944), widow of Irving Babbitt (1865–1933).

4.AntónioSalazar, António de Oliveira de Oliveira Salazar (1889–1970), leader of the authoritarian government of Portugal. F&F was to publish books by and about him.

5.In 1937 Richard and Catherine de la Mare took up residence in a fine eighteenth-century brick mansion at Much Hadham in Hertfordshire (they were formerly resident in Gower Street, London).

6.Margaret Farrand Thorp, Charles Kingsley 1819–1875 (Princeton, 1937), reviewed by J. D. C. Pellow in Criterion 17 (Jan. 1938), 352–5.

7.E. C. DunnDunn, E. C., The Literature of Shakespeare’s England (1936).

Babbitt, Dora D., TSE has sombre lunch with, obliged with note on late husband, ruled by late husband's tastes, EH attends reading-party of,
see also Babbitts, the

1.DoraBabbitt, Dora D. D. Babbitt (1877–1944), wife of Irving Babbitt (1865–1933).

Charles Eliot Norton Lectures (afterwards The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism), weekend spent meditating, a task for Lent, contemplated, stimulated by Mirsky, preoccupying TSE, hard-going, outlined, TSE yet to begin, unsatisfactory, 'The Relation of Criticism and Poetry' (afterwards 'Introduction'), TSE preparing, and the Charles Norton references, hard-going, a week's toil over, TSE on giving the lecture, EH promised copy, 'Poetry and Criticism in the Time of Elizabeth' (afterwards 'Apology for the Countess of Pembroke'), so far promising, finished, TSE on giving the lecture, 'The Classical Tradition: Dryden on Johnson' (afterwards 'The Age of Dryden'), TSE on the lecture itself, 'The Theories of Coleridge and Wordsworth' (afterwards 'Wordsworth and Coleridge'), TSE immersed in, TSE wonders at audience for, finished, TSE's jokes lost on audience, 'The practice of Shelley and Keats' (afterwards 'Shelley and Keats'), TSE on giving the lecture, 'Arnold and the Academic Mind' (afterwards 'Matthew Arnold'), unprepared with less than two weeks, completed the morning of lecture, 'The Modern Mind', as yet unfinished, TSE on giving the lecture, 'Conclusion', TSE on giving the lecture, TSE's immediate reflections on, being revised for publication, improved by Sheff's criticisms, in proof, copy inscribed to EH, Maritain on, seem intemperate on further reflection,
see also Charles Eliot Norton Professorship of Poetry
de la Mares, the, TSE forgoes EH's invitation for, TSE's dread of visiting, give dinner for the Morleys, give TSE wartime refuge, the children, teach TSE vingt-et-un,
'Development of Shakespeare's Verse, The', TSE reading Shakespeare in preparation, composition and revision, as lectured, Morley comments on, Granville-Barker, Wilson and Martin Browne sent, sent to EH, who seeks permission to recite, revised again for Bristol, refashioned for Stockholm, bibliographic details of,
Dunn, E. C.,

7.E. C. DunnDunn, E. C., The Literature of Shakespeare’s England (1936).

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,
Germany, and The Road Back, and Triumphal March, needs to cooperate with Britain and France, and TSE's Lloyds war-work, TSE listening to speeches from, its actresses, and its Jewish population, in light of Versailles, Oldham reports on religious resistance in, remilitarises the Rhineland, its territorial ambitions under Hitler, Germans compared to Austrians, under Nazism, Duncan-Jones on religious persecution in, German conduct in warfare, Germans compared to Swedes, TSE's post-war sense of duty to, TSE diagnoses its totalitarian slide, TSE urges renewed cultural relations with, TSE on visiting,
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.

Perkinses, the, likely to be interested in An Adventure, compared to Mary Ware, enjoyable dinner at the Ludlow with, take to TSE, TSE desires parental intimacy with, their dinner-guests dismissed by TSE, who repents of seeming ingratitude, TSE confides separation plans to, too polite, questioned as companions for EH, offered English introductions, entertained on arrival in London, seek residence in Chichester, given introduction to G. C. Coulton, take house at Chipping Camden, as Chipping Campden hosts, given introduction to Bishop Bell, TSE entertains at Oxford and Cambridge Club, TSE's private opinion on, TSE encourages EH's independence from, their repressive influence on EH, buy TSE gloves for Christmas, sent Lapsang Souchong on arrival in England, invite TSE to Campden, move apartment, anticipate 1938 English summer, descend on EH in Northampton, and EH's wartime return to America, temporarily homeless, enfeebled, EH forwards TSE teenage letter to, their health, which is a burden, approve EH's permanent Abbot position,
Read, Herbert, indebted to Hulme, on Wilfred Owen, part of Criterion inner circle, his divorce, on TSE and children, TSE formulates his dislike for, hosts TSE in Hampstead, his dismal birthday-party, and his old ladies object of TSE and JDH's practical jokes, at Dobrée's farewell lunch, begrudged contribution to Milton volume, clashes with TSE in Criterion, discusses Anglo-French relations with TSE and Saurat, TSE spends weekend with, hosts TSE in Bucks, and Bukhari to lunch with TSE, his political persuasions, wheeled out at Norwegian dinner, on Canterbury excursion,
see also Reads, the

3.Herbert ReadRead, Herbert (1893–1968), English poet and literary critic: see Biographical Register.

Reads, the, take TSE to Toscanini, give TSE refuge during Blitz, house TSE's possessions,
Salazar, António de Oliveira, F&F to publish book by, in TSE's recollection,

4.AntónioSalazar, António de Oliveira de Oliveira Salazar (1889–1970), leader of the authoritarian government of Portugal. F&F was to publish books by and about him.

Tandy, Geoffrey, at Pike's Farm, on cuts to The Rock, playing on slot-machine with TSE, described for EH, plays golf with TSE, at Dobrée's farewell lunch, his film of TSE, on Speaight's Becket, in poor spirits, part of Criterion inner circle, gives Christmas Eve BBC address, Metaphysical readings prepared for, brings TSE sherry in bed, accompanies TSE to Cambridge and Wisbech, TSE's stylistic influence discerned in, and the original 'Cats' broadcast, repeats 'Cats' broadcast, away on war business, his conversation missed, his war work,
see also Tandys, the

2.GeoffreyTandy, Geoffrey Tandy (1900–69), marine biologist; Assistant Keeper of Botany at the Natural History Museum, London, 1926–47; did broadcast readings for the BBC (including the first reading of TSE’s Practical Cats on Christmas Day 1937): see Biographical Register.

Tandys, the, TSE's Hampton weekends with, TSE's weekend in Newhaven with, as family, welcome baby daughter, compared to the Morleys, move to new Hampton home, host TSE for Guy Fawkes night, give TSE pipes for Christmas, versus the de la Mares, take large Dorset cottage, host TSE in Dorset, their situation in Dorset, accompanied to Alice in Wonderland,
Thorp, Margaret (née Farrand), accompanied TSE and EH to Tristan, VHE's liking for, TSE on, TSE's Tristan references lost on, compared to husband, possible trustee of Hale correspondence, one of EH's few confidants, would think TSE romantic, TSE on EH's feeling of inferiority to, approachable but for Willard, Criterion review of her book, an unsoothing presence, F&F publish book by, teased for liberalism, EH on, EH seeks job opportunity through, encouraging EH to augment Princeton deposit, America at the Movies,
see also Thorps, the

16.MargaretThorp, Margaret (née Farrand) Farrand (1891–1970), author and journalist – see Margaret Thorp in Biographical Register.

Woolfs, the, at Clive Bell's for lunch, TSE's dearest London friends, company compared to that of Christians, host TSE and Elizabeth Bowen to tea, Rodmell described, closer to TSE than to VHE, visited on TSE's 1933 return, refreshingly childless, amazed by TSE's appearance, and Tomlin dine with TSE, Keynes and TSE dine with, TSE's Bloomsbury weekend with, described in their Tavistock Square domain, have TSE for tea, TSE dines with, and TSE argue about honours, compared to the de la Mares, host TSE for weekend, abandon London for Sussex, where they invite TSE, TSE's Sussex stay with, on their return from Sussex, host TSE, give dinner without mentioning war, TSE plans to visit in Sussex, 52 Tavistock Square bombed,