[22 Paradise Rd., Northampton, Mass.]
I must send you a short note by the mid-week Ile de France, and will write more fully by the fast packet at the end of the week. (I shall have more time then too, for this week the first three evenings are those taken – I am still doing my best to limit my outgoings [sic] to three evenings a week, but as you see I can’t space them as I would. LastFabers, the;e3 nightFeiling, Keith;a2 to fill in a gap at [a] dinner party at the Fabers’, asBarrington-Ward, Robert;a1 Barrington-WardKnox, E. V.and wife at Fabers' dinner;a3 had to take Dawson’s place at The Times,1 so I was paired off with his wife – there were also the Keith Feilings – Mrs. F. quite a lively lady in her fifties2 – and E. V. Knox of Punch, whom I knew, and his wife;3 andgames, diversions'Peabody' card-game;a7 in the evening we played a curious card game which they insisted on calling Pea-BODY, though I protested.4 TonightMacdonald, Hugh;a1 to dine with dreary Hugh Macdonald5 (a charity event) andMorley, Christina (née Innes);b8 tomorrow is Christina Morley’s birthday).
I was distressed by your influenza; indeed I wish that I could have nursed you! I do hope you will be careful for some time to come, for that kind of upset, very [un]pleasant, may return. AndHale, Emilyappearance and characteristics;v7her leopard-fur coat;d5 I do hope that you have had your fur coat for the last of the cold spells. I suppose it will soon be soft and slushy and relaxing.
Thank you for your news about the play. AsRambert, Mariereports on Murder tour;a1 I think I told you, according to Madame Rambert,6 theMiller, Gilbertpossible force behind Murder's transfer;a2 decision to go to New York was forced by Miller. IFamily Reunion, The;d6 hope they will be able to recoup somewhat in the sticks. I expect that the actors will get paid, I am only afraid that Ashley will be very badly hit; and I want him to be able to start on The Family Re-union with enthusiasm. And I am all the more anxious that he should make a little money out of that.
IRotha, Paul;a1 amGrierson, John;a1 interested in your seeing the ‘documentaries’. Paul Rotha, whose real name is said to be Tommy Tomkins, only that is not so good in the film business, wrote a book on the subject which we published – would you like to see it? 7 And I have been having a good deal to do, in the way of business, with John Grierson, who may have produced some of those you saw.8
This is abrupt – but I will write again on Friday!
1.RobertBarrington-Ward, Robert Barrington-Ward (1891–1948), barrister and journalist; assistant editor of The Times from 1934; editor, 1941–8.
2.Keith (later Sir Keith) Feiling (1884–1977), was from 1928 a Fellow of Christ Church, Oxford; Lecturer in Modern History. He was to be Chichele Professor of Modern History at All Souls, 1946–50. His wife was Caroline Feiling, née Janson (1883–1978).
3.E. V. Knox (1881–1971), journalist, poet and satirist; editor of Punch, 1932–49. His second wife, whom he married in 1937, was Mary Knox, née Shepard (1909–2000), the children’s book illustrator – most famous for illustrating the Mary Poppins stories of P. L. Travers.
4.GeoffreyFaber, Geoffreyon TSE's dinner-party bearing;g2n Faber’s diary, Mon. 7 Mar.: ‘Dinner at No. 1 with the Feilings, Knox’s, Adele B.-Ward, & T.S.E. (who was a noble guest). A successful evening; & TSE made the right impression on Keith Feiling, who liked him enormously, & on Mrs. F who is as good company as ever.’
5.HughMacdonald, Hugh Macdonald (1885–1958), who trained as a solicitor, went into partnership with Frederick Etchells to produce fine editions under the imprint of The Haslewood Books, 1924–31. His works include England’s Helicon (1925), The Phoenix Nest (1926), John Dryden: A Bibliography of Early Editions and of Drydenianae (1939), On Foot: An Anthology (1942), Portraits in Prose (1946), and Andrew Marvell’s Poems (1952).
6.MarieRambert, Marie Rambert (1888–1982) – wife of Ashley Dukes – Polish-born ballet dancer and teacher (she studied with Nijinksy and Karsavina, joined Diaghileff’s ballet corps, and trained Frederick Ashton), founded the Ballet Rambert in 1926. Knighted in 1962. See Rambert, Quicksilver: Autobiography (1972); Clement Crisp, Ballet Rambert: 50 Years and on (1981).
7.PaulRotha, Paul Rotha (1907–84) – born Paul Thompson – documentary filmmaker, film historian and critic; collaborator with John Grierson. See Rotha, Documentary Film (F&F, 1935).
8.JohnGrierson, John Grierson (1898–1972), pioneering documentary filmmaker; chief of GPO Film Unit.
1.RobertBarrington-Ward, Robert Barrington-Ward (1891–1948), barrister and journalist; assistant editor of The Times from 1934; editor, 1941–8.
11.GeoffreyFaber, Geoffrey Faber (1889–1961), publisher and poet: see Biographical Register.
8.JohnGrierson, John Grierson (1898–1972), pioneering documentary filmmaker; chief of GPO Film Unit.
2.E. V. KnoxKnox, E. V. (1881–1971), poet and satirist; editor of Punch, 1932–49.
5.HughMacdonald, Hugh Macdonald (1885–1958), who trained as a solicitor, went into partnership with Frederick Etchells to produce fine editions under the imprint of The Haslewood Books, 1924–31. His works include England’s Helicon (1925), The Phoenix Nest (1926), John Dryden: A Bibliography of Early Editions and of Drydenianae (1939), On Foot: An Anthology (1942), Portraits in Prose (1946), and Andrew Marvell’s Poems (1952).
5.GilbertMiller, Gilbert Miller (1884–1969); American theatrical producer. In 1950 he was to win a Tony Award for his production of The Cocktail Party. The Gilbert Miller–Ashley Dukes production of Murder in the Cathedral (with Miller taking a quarter-share in the enterprise, and Dukes three-quarters to secure artistic control), starring Robert Speaight, was to open at the Ritz Theatre, West 48th Street, New York City, on 16 Feb. 1938. It ran for 21 performances.
6.MarieRambert, Marie Rambert (1888–1982) – wife of Ashley Dukes – Polish-born ballet dancer and teacher (she studied with Nijinksy and Karsavina, joined Diaghileff’s ballet corps, and trained Frederick Ashton), founded the Ballet Rambert in 1926. Knighted in 1962. See Rambert, Quicksilver: Autobiography (1972); Clement Crisp, Ballet Rambert: 50 Years and on (1981).