[22 Paradise Rd., Northampton, Mass.]

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

This is a line to reach you by the Bremen – not very much later, I hope, than that by the Empress. IMorley, Frank Vigorhis father dies;h1 have already had to despatch one letter by the same boat – asMorley, Dr Frankdies;a1 Frank Morley’s father died very shortly after they reached Baltimore1 – to Frank’s mother: I am now glad that I had dinner with them on their last night here – just a fortnight ago, I was wearing a new shirt, and to-day I am wearing it for the first time after washing. ThisDobrée, Valentine;a6 isBrooke-Pechell, Sir Augustus Alexanderdies;a3 the second letter of condolence within a week: the first to Valentine Dobrée (you remember her, pleasantly, I believe) whose father (Col. Sir Alexander Brooke-Pechell) had died2 – she was very much distressed. ButKennerleys, the;a5Kennerley, JeanKennerleys, theKennerley, MorleyKennerleys, the IHayward, John;h3 had, as I said I would, a quiet weekend: supper with John Hayward on Sunday with the Kennerleys; theyde la Mares, the;a4 had all been out in the afternoon to Much Haddam [sc. Hadham] Hall to see the De La Mares. MondayHinks, Rogerquizzed over Roman Art book;a4 I had Roger Hinks to lunch, to ask about the book he has promised us on Roman Art; to-dayBetjeman, JohnTSE discusses book proposal with;a1 John Betjeman (a former pupil of mine at Highgate)3 to discuss a book for him to write on English Architecture; and this afternoon I had arranged at the club at six o’clock a meeting between a man I know in the Anglo-International Bank, who is looking for a new job because international banking is disappearing, and a man I know in the Bank of England, whoNiemeyer, Sir Otto;a1 I thought might help him towards an interview with Sir Otto Niemeyer.4 ThisMore, Paul Elmerposthumous work reviewed;b6 morning I wrote a column for the Times Literary Supplement about Paul More’s book (a very slight posthumous work, which I think had better not have been printed, which made matters difficult);5 andCriterion, TheJanuary 1938;d5'Commentary' on Nuffield endowments;a1 I have during the rest of this week to revise my Commentary and'Development of Shakespeare's Verse, The'composition and revision;a3 perfect my Shakespeare lectures. Then on Monday night to Edinburgh, and it will be with great relief that I shall board the sleeping car on the Night Scot (or whatever it is called) at Edinburgh on Friday night: though when I get back I shall be completely free from engagements and have to look my play face to face for the next six or seven months. MeanwhileWilson, John DoverTSE bones up on;a2, another quiet weekend, during which I shall have to look into the works of Professor Dover Wilson, one of my hosts in Edinburgh – I believe he has written a book on Hamlet, and I ought to know about it before I stay with them.

I shall think of you on the 27th, during my lecture! my message for your birthday must be sent before I leave.

IPerkins, Edith (EH's aunt);c9 am glad to have a note from Mrs. Perkins, saying that they are going to Lincoln next week and expect to be at Aban Court6 by November 2nd. I have had no letter from you (I am not complaining, because I am not in a position to complain, merely stating) since that of Oct. 5th – which I have already acknowledged. I will write again at the weekend.

And meanwhile, my prayers for my darling.

Your Tom

[Enclosed'Three Sonnets to Geoffrey Cust Faber Esqre'enclosed to EH;a1 ‘Three Sonnets to Geoffrey Cust Faber Esqre as a reply to a ballad entitled “Nobody knows how I feel about you.”’7]

1.DrMorley, Dr Frank Frank Morley (1860–1937), who was born in Suffolk, became a scholar and prizeman of King’s College, Cambridge, where he was placed in the first class in both parts of the Mathematical Tripos. A fine chess player, he was in the Cambridge University chess team, 1880–4. After a period as mathematics master at Bath College, he went to teach at Haverford College, Pennsylvania, where he was ultimately Professor of Mathematics. He was for a while President of the American Mathematical Society. His three sons were all Rhodes scholars from Maryland – Christopher, the novelist; Felix, editor of the Washington Post; and Frank.

2.Sir Augustus Alexander Brooke-Pechell, 7th Baronet (b. 1857), died on 6 Oct.

3.JohnBetjeman, John Betjeman (1906–84), poet, journalist, authority on architecture; radio and TV broadcaster: see Biographical Register.

4.SirNiemeyer, Sir Otto Otto Niemeyer (1883–1971) worked for H.M. Treasury before joining the Bank of England, where he was a director, 1938–62, and a director of the Bank for International Settlements, 1931–65.

5.‘An Anglican Platonist: The Conversion of Elmer More’ – on Pages from an Oxford Diary – TLS, 30 Oct. 1937: CProse 5, 562–7.

6.Aban Court Hotel, 25 Harrington Gardens, Kensington, London S.W.7. DrPerkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle)reports on TSE from Aban Court;c9n John Carroll Perkins wrote to EH from the Aban Court Hotel on 7 Nov. 1937, noting at the end: ‘T.S.E. looked very well. Our endless love to you / Your uncle / John’ (Princeton C93).

7.See Poems II, 225–8.

Betjeman, John, TSE discusses book proposal with, invites TSE for weekend, goes to Greta Garbo film with TSE,
see also Betjemans, the

3.JohnBetjeman, John Betjeman (1906–84), poet, journalist, authority on architecture; radio and TV broadcaster: see Biographical Register.

Brooke-Pechell, Sir Augustus Alexander, sketched for EH, dies, funeral,
see also Dobrées, the

11.SirBrooke-Pechell, Sir Augustus Alexander Augustus Alexander Brooke-Pechell, 7th Baronet (1857–1937).

Criterion, The, its monthly meetings fatigue TSE, introduced TSE to Whibley, arrangements in TSE's absence, first contributors' meeting since Monro's death, 1932 contributors' gathering, first contributors' gathering of 1934, Russell Square gathering for, particularly heavy gathering, its gatherings dreaded, to be wound up, reflections on ending, shut up against contributions, lamented even in Brno, letters of condolence, reading poetry submissions for, July 1931, 'Commentary', April 1932, laborious 'Commentary', July 1932, 'Commentary', October 1932, 'Commentary', October 1933, 'Commentary' on Irving Babbitt, prepared on holiday, July 1934, 'Commentary', January 1935, TSE ordering, October 1935, 'Commentary', 'Commentary', which TSE regrets as too personal, July 1936, possibilities for 'Commentary', October 1936, being made up, being finalised, to be ordered, January 1937, prepared in August 1936, April 1937, 'Commentary', July 1937, 'Commentary', January 1938, 'Commentary' on Nuffield endowments, which is sparsely well received, April 1938, 'Commentary', July 1938, 'Commentary', January 1939, to be final issue, 'Last Words',
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,
Dobrée, Valentine, inscrutable, TSE now easier with, her unfortunate real name, described for EH, reduced to cooking and cleaning for herself,
see also Dobrées, the

3.ValentineDobrée, Valentine Dobrée (1894–1974) – née Gladys May Mabel Brooke-Pechell, daughter of Sir Augustus Brooke-Pechell, 7th Baronet – was a well-regarded artist, novelist and short story writer. In addition to Your Cuckoo Sings by Kind (Knopf, 1927), she published one further novel, The Emperor’s Tigers (F&F, 1929); a collection of stories, To Blush Unseen (1935); and a volume of verse, This Green Tide (F&F, 1965). She married Bonamy Dobrée in 1913. See further Valentine Dobrée 1894–1974 (University Gallery Leeds, 2000); and Fifty Works by Fifty British Women Artists 1900– 1950, ed. Sacha Llewellyn (2018), 85.

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.

Hinks, Roger, quizzed over Roman Art book, at JDH's birthday-party, recalls TSE in Sweden, on TSE's 1947 visit to Rome,

4.RogerHinks, Roger Hinks (1903–63), Assistant Keeper, 1926–39, in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, from which he resigned in consequence of a scandal caused by his arrangements for deep-cleaning the Elgin Marbles. He later worked at the Warburg Institute, at the British Legation in Stockholm (where he met TSE in 1942) and for the British Council (Rome, The Netherlands, Greece, Paris). His writings include Carolingian Art (1935) and Caravaggio: His Life – His Legend – His Works (1953). See also ‘Roger Hinks’, Burlington Magazine 105: 4738 (Sept. 1964), 423–34; and The Gymnasium of the Mind: The Journals of Roger Hinks, 1933–1963, ed. John Goldsmith (1984).

Kennerleys, the, at the Morleys' farewell dinner, watch Modern Times with TSE, described for EH, at Morleys' Thanksgiving Day party,
More, Paul Elmer, greatly preferred to Irving Babbitt, the prospect of Madeira and theology with, TSE's Princeton sojourn with, his importance since Whibley's death, quoted on the virtues, TSE's two days in Oxford with, discusses Anglicanism with TSE, TSE hopes to pay final visit, near death, TSE finishes note on, important older male friend, posthumous work reviewed, his letters returned to executors,

4.PaulMore, Paul Elmer Elmer More (1864–1937), critic, scholar, philosopher: see Biographical Register.

Morley, Dr Frank, dies,

1.DrMorley, Dr Frank Frank Morley (1860–1937), who was born in Suffolk, became a scholar and prizeman of King’s College, Cambridge, where he was placed in the first class in both parts of the Mathematical Tripos. A fine chess player, he was in the Cambridge University chess team, 1880–4. After a period as mathematics master at Bath College, he went to teach at Haverford College, Pennsylvania, where he was ultimately Professor of Mathematics. He was for a while President of the American Mathematical Society. His three sons were all Rhodes scholars from Maryland – Christopher, the novelist; Felix, editor of the Washington Post; and Frank.

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.

Niemeyer, Sir Otto,

4.SirNiemeyer, Sir Otto Otto Niemeyer (1883–1971) worked for H.M. Treasury before joining the Bank of England, where he was a director, 1938–62, and a director of the Bank for International Settlements, 1931–65.

Perkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle), wished speedy recovery, Perkins household apparently restored, and TSE's King's Chapel address, at first Norton lecture, writes about second Norton lecture, supplied with tobacco, unused to intelligent opposition, suggests title for Murder, recommended Endless Adventure, TSE on, novelty birthday-present suggested for, comes by The Achievement of T. S. Eliot, once again preaching, his accent, his versus Eliot-family Unitarianism, reports on TSE from Aban Court, remarks on photograph of TSE, his Pastor Emeritus position endangered, starved of male company, more remote with age, donates Eliotana to Henry's collection, relations with Aunt Edith, ailing, altered with age, and Campden memories, sends photograph of EH portrait, on 1946 reunion with TSE, withdrawn, according to EH, honoured by bas-relief, celebrates 86th birthday, feared for, celebrates 87th birthday, thanks EH for her help, his final illness, dies, elegised by TSE, funeral, obituary and funeral, obituary, TSE receives old clothes of, Miss Lavorgna on, apparently communicated in Anglican churches, Annals of King's Chapel,
see also Perkinses, the

3.DrPerkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle) John Carroll Perkins (1862–1950), Minister of King’s Chapel, Boston: see Biographical Register.

Perkins, Edith (EH's aunt), her relationship to EH queried, to accompany EH to Scripps, asks TSE to dinner, at first Norton lecture, shares pew with TSE, accompanies TSE to Symphony Concert, in audience at Milton Academy, catches cold in Florence, in TSE's private opinion, TSE's occasional poem for, her relationship with EH analysed, dislikes Jeanette McPherrin, explains EH's breakdown to TSE, on the Harvard Murder, as Campden hostess, and TSE's wartime instructions to EH, gives lunch at American Women's Club, gives TSE balsam pillow, requests English edition of Cats, as horticulturalist, without Campden garden, compared to Irene Hale, gives TSE photograph of EH, attends Ada's funeral, reports on EH's Millbrook situation, pressed for ham and pineapple recipe, sight affected in one eye, gives lecture, sight failing, sight deteriorates in other eye, thanked for 1946 hospitality, gives to Books Across the Sea, according to EH, asks TSE to present slides to RHS, which TSE does, on EH and TSE's relationship, and Hidcote House, friendly with Marion, TSE pitches her book to publishers, depressed by the heat, somewhat recovered, approaching 80th, faced with husband's death, letter of condolence to, sent birthday poem, visited in Boston, has sciatica, reports on EH's dramatic activities, Miss Lavorgna on, in her old-age infirmity, suffers 'shock', sacks nurse, EH preserved from, sends funeral tribute to Cousin Will, and the Hale letters, nursing home sought for, moved into nursing home, where TSE writes to her, suffers stroke, deteriorating, relations with EH, her legacy to EH,
see also Perkinses, the
'Three Sonnets to Geoffrey Cust Faber Esqre', enclosed to EH,
Wilson, John Dover, TSE bones up on, as TSE's host in Edinburgh, receives TSE's Shakespeare lectures,

4.JohnWilson, John Dover Dover Wilson (1881–1969), literary and textual scholar; Regius Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature, Edinburgh, 1935–45. Renowned as editor of the New Cambridge Shakespeare, 1921–66. His writings include The Essential Shakespeare (1932); The Fortunes of Falstaff (1943); and Shakespeare’s Happy Comedies (1962).