[1418 East 63d St., Seattle]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
Faber & Faber Ltd
31 July 1931
Dear Lady Emily,

Nothing has come from you this week, and I am nervous partly because you had not yet received any of my air mail letters when you last wrote; but I shall take notice of your reproof and plod away at a letter – though you may at least concede that my letters must be duller when I have not heard from you. IBell, Clivegossips with TSE;a4 had a pleasant lunch on Tuesday withBirrell, Francisgossips with TSE;a2 Clive, Francis Birrell andMcKnight Kauffer, Edwardgossiping at Clive Bell's;a1 McKnight Kauffer (the man from Montana who illustrates my verses) mostly gossip of small sorts – much about the Bennetts – everything to Arnold’s credit – BirrellBennett, ArnoldThe Grand Babylon Hotel;a3 said Bennett told him once that when he wrote ‘The Grand Babylon Hotel’1 he knew nothing about fashionable hotels, and that he was writing another now that he knew (that was his latest book, which I have not read); but, as Birrell justly observed, Bennett wrote about such things much better when he longed for them than after he knew them. The second Mrs. B. it appears is a very poor actress, and only got parts through her husband.2 TheSoulié, Marguerite;a1 first Mrs. B. I knew slightly; a Frenchwoman, I did not dislike her as much as most people, but she had a weakness for giving recitations of French poetry, and always explained beforehand that she recited every poet quite differently, but yet she always made them all sound quite alike, and one never knew whether she was doing Hugo or Verlaine.3 TuesdayHinkleys, thetake to Evelyn Underhill and Harriet Weaver;a7 afternoon the Hinkleys to tea; I think they liked Mrs. Stuart Moore andWeaver, Harriet ShawTSE's fondness for;a2 Miss Harriett [sic] Weaver – the latter is a very old friend of mine, as she was my first publisher.4 Wednesday nothing particular, except a Board Meeting. Thursday we took the HinkleysHinkleys, thetaken on Bloomsbury tour;a8 to tea at the Morrells; they came here and inspected my office first. The tea went off very well, and I think they liked both Lady Ottoline and Philip very much – there were no very great lions present, unlessLehmann, RosamondTSE takes disliking to;a1 one counts a Jewish novelist named Rosamund [sic] Lehmann, whom I disliked.5 I must say that the Morrells were both charming, and I do not suppose that they perceived at all that that household, like some others, is very well whitewashed.6 IHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin)TSE regrets speaking lightly of;a3 am sorry if I seem to have twice spoken rather slightingly of Eleanor, because on the whole, I do admire her, and I have a strong affection for her which includes memories of very early childhood.

Now people are going out of London – myHaigh-Wood, Rose Esther (TSE's mother-in-law, née Robinson);a3 mother in law has just returned from Anglesey, and it is really a considerable support to me to have her near – and things will, I trust, be very quiet; though in the circumstances, quietness is not altogether to be desired.

I haven’t suggested any book for us to read. It seems to me that you have arranged too full a summer anyway – especially with the domestic work, andPerkins, Dr John Carroll (EH's uncle)wished speedy recovery;a1 Mr. Perkins’s illness on top of it – I hope to hear that he is convalescent and at home again, for a hospital is a dreary ambiance at the best. I know it has been a blessing to them to have you with them; I don’t see how Mrs. Perkins could have got through it without you.

When you return to Boston I shall send something: Ireading (TSE's)letters of other authors;a8 had thought of Letters as being good for desultory reading: one can pick the book up and read a letter or two at bedtime; thereKeats, Johnbut suggested as joint-reading;a2 are Keats’s, which I have never read, but ought to have – except I have read the ones to Fanny Brawne, which are not interesting,7 but I believe all the good matter is in the letters to men friends – andCowper, WilliamTSE suggests to EH for joint-reading;a1 Cowper’s;8 orWalpole, HoraceTSE suggests EH and he read letters of;a1 I might find a volume of selected letters of Horace Walpole – all of these are things I do not know. My knowledge of literature is very fragmentary; IRichardson, Samuelunread by TSE;a1 have never read any Richardson, andFielding, Henrydisliked;a1 don’t like Fielding; andDefoe, DanielMoll Flanders;a2 I have never read Moll Flanders.

I think I am being rather good, not having heard from you by to-day; especially since it so falls out that Monday is that institution which I dread, a Bank Holiday; and on Tuesday, after surviving that three days, I shall hope for at least ONE letter on my tray.

J’ai envie de te dire maintes choses encore; mais, pour parler des sûjets plus intimes, j’ai besoin de la rassurance et la Bénédiction d’une lettre du toi.9

Tom.

1.Arnold Bennett, The Grand Babylon Hotel (novel, 1902).

2.Bennett, who had died on 27 Mar., lived with an actor named Dorothy Cheston (b. 1896) who took his surname: they never married, though she bore him a daughter in 1926.

3.Bennett had married in 1907 an actor named Marguerite Soulié: but they separated in 1921. See Arnold Bennett in Love: Arnold Bennett and his wife Marguerite Soulié: A Correspondence, ed. George and Jean Beardmore (1972).

4.Prufrock and Other Observations (The Egoist, 1917).

5.RosamondLehmann, Rosamond Lehmann (1901–90) – older sister of the writer, editor and publisher John Lehmann – enjoyed success with her first novel, the quasi-autobiographical Dusty Answer (1927); her second was A Note in Music (1930).

6.BL Add MS 88886/4/29: (July 31), JournalsMorrell, Lady Ottolineon the Eliots and the Hinkleys;a7n of OMHinkleys, theOM on;a9nHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin)Hinkleys, theHinkley, Barbara (TSE's first cousin)Hinkleys, theHinkley, Susan Heywood (TSE's aunt, née Stearns)Hinkleys, the: ‘T. S. Eliot came with his wife, his Aunt & his Cousin -- & they arrived So early, as Vivienne wanted to go & meet her Mother at the station. She was coming from some Suburb. The Aunt & cousin were very Nice Americans of the True Boston Type .. Intelligent & simple. […] Then Mrs Rosamund Phillips came .. She was obviously interested to meet Tom, but she was the other side of the Table. I introduced the Name of her Novel to show who she was.

‘Then Tom & V. had to leave on this absurd errand […]

‘I am glad Tom Eliot is friendly now - but he doesn’t talk to me .. & I know nothing of what is going on inside him.

‘Vivienne a little crazy, & her recking [?] presence prevents all real talk.

‘He cannot desire it & probably hides behind her ..’

7.Letters of John Keats to Fanny Brawne written in the years mdcccxix and mdcccxx and now given from the original manuscripts with introduction and notes by Harry Buxton Forman (New York, 1878).

8.The Works of William Cowper: His Life, Letters, and Poems, ed. Revd T. S. Grimshawe (1859).

9.‘I want to tell you many more things; but, to speak of more intimate matters, I need the reassurance and the Blessing of a letter from you.’

Bell, Clive, lunches TSE and the Woolfs, described for EH, another Bloomsbury lunch with, gossips with TSE, usual lunch marred by Lady Colefax, duels with TSE at dinner-party, gossiping again with TSE, during TSE's Charleston visit, dines with JDH, Garnett and TSE, hosts lunch-party,

12.CliveBell, Clive Bell (1881–1964), author and critic of art: see Biographical Register.

Bennett, Arnold, commemorated by TSE, Gallup buys TSE's correspondence with, The Grand Babylon Hotel,
Birrell, Francis, at Clive Bell's Bloomsbury lunch, gossips with TSE, dying, wishes for death,

4.FrancisBirrell, Francis Birrell (1889–1935), critic; owner with David Garnett of a Bloomsbury bookshop. He wrote for New Statesman and Nation, and published two biographies: his life of Gladstone came out in 1933.

Cowper, William, TSE suggests to EH for joint-reading,
Defoe, Daniel, Bonamy Dobrée broadcasts on, Moll Flanders,
Fielding, Henry, disliked,
Haigh-Wood, Rose Esther (TSE's mother-in-law, née Robinson), attends TSE's lecture on Whibley, the impossibility of VHE looking after, encourages TSE to accept Norton Professorship, visited VHE in sanatorium, her health, Hindhead weekend with, blames VHE for Lucy Thayer's departure,

2.RoseHaigh-Wood, Rose Esther (TSE's mother-in-law, née Robinson) Esther Haigh-Wood (1860–1941), wifeHaigh-Wood, Charles of Charles Haigh-Wood (1854–1927), artist.

Hinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin), announces presence in London, TSE regrets speaking lightly of, un-deracinated, compared to TSE, TSE shares EH's frustrations with, less perceptive than her mother, gives party for Eva Le Gallienne, unworldly, theatrical success might improve, takes TSE to football match, dances with TSE, at second Norton lecture, as EH's friend, unflattering photograph of, and EH attend American Murder, suspected of writing by the book, to Aunt Susie as Hope Mirrlees to Mappie, pursues adult education, prejudices TSE against George Baker, cossetted, TSE feels remote from, explodes two Stearns family myths, reportedly writing novel, and life after Aunt Susie, turned carer, passes up EH's invitation, recollected as girl, TSE attempts to lure to England, her impersonality, invites TSE to stay in Boston, reports on Margaret's funeral, TSE's improved relations with, as 1956 hostess, reports on EH, informs EH of TSE's health, engineers correspondence between EVE and EH, adaptation of Emma, central to TSE falling for EH, Charlotte Brontë play, TSE presents to London Play Company, TSE's verdict on, compared to Dear Jane, Dear Jane, to be produced in New York, consumes her, TSE happy to dodge premiere, but hopes to catch over Christmas, well reviewed in certain quarters, White Violets,
see also Hinkleys, the

5.EleanorHinkley, Eleanor Holmes (TSE's first cousin) Holmes Hinkley (1891–1971), playwright; TSE’s first cousin; daughter of Susan Heywood Stearns – TSE’s maternal aunt – and Holmes Hinkley: see Biographical Register.

Hinkleys, the, during TSE's student days, in London, cheerful but somehow stunted, take to Evelyn Underhill and Harriet Weaver, taken on Bloomsbury tour, OM on, TSE reflects on their departure, have never asked after EH's mother, not in TSE's confidence as to EH, at odds with TSE's view of marriage, EH yet to confide in, more conventional than moral, bemuse TSE, their company makes TSE feel wary, outside Ada's confidence, TSE repents of criticising, more intolerant even than TSE, apprised of TSE's separation, ignorant of TSE's feelings for EH, EH explains relationship with TSE to, family drama of Dane babies, supported Landon over FDR, their insularity, their family sclerosis, TSE imagines EH's evening with,
Keats, John, his love-letters disparaged, but suggested as joint-reading, then promised to EH, TSE recants superior attitude to, his letters guarantee his talent, his letters, Testaccio Cemetery appeal,
Lehmann, Rosamond, TSE takes disliking to,

5.RosamondLehmann, Rosamond Lehmann (1901–90) – older sister of the writer, editor and publisher John Lehmann – enjoyed success with her first novel, the quasi-autobiographical Dusty Answer (1927); her second was A Note in Music (1930).

McKnight Kauffer, Edward, gossiping at Clive Bell's, his cover for Triumphal March, as husband, takes Hitleresque photo, TSE dislikes photograph by, TSE opens Kauffer Memorial Exhibition, which involves television appearance,
see also McKnight Kauffers, the

2.EdwardMcKnight Kauffer, Edward McKnight Kauffer (1890–1954), American artist and illustrator: see Biographical Register. His partner was Marion Dorn (1896–1964), textile designer.

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.

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.

reading (TSE's), The Road Back, Hay Fever, sermons of Revd Dr William E. Channing, Racine's Bérénice, in general, the Bible, The Witch of Edmonton again, letters of other authors, a life of Mohammed, a life of Calvin, R. S. Wilson's life of Marcion the Heretic, Living My Life, French detective stories, French novels, recent books on economics and finance, the Epistles of St. Paul, The Lady of the Lake, Letters of Charles Eliot Norton, never deeply or widely enough, The Scarab Murder Case, translation of Dante, detective stories, Letters of Mrs Gaskell and Charles Eliot Norton, second-rate detective story, disinterestedly, for leisure, Vision of God, Faith of a Moralist, Newman's sermons, Birds of the Countryside, Modern Reader's Bible, The Face of Death, René Bazin's Charles de Foucauld, Charles Petrie's Monarchy, Thurber's My Life and Hard Times, Oliver's Endless Adventure (vol. 3), Madame Sorel's memoirs, book on French policing, detective story for committee, The League of Frightened Men, The Garden Murder Case, The Luck of the Bodkins, The House in Paris, The Life of Charles Gore, Middleton Murry's Shakespeare, Dr Goebbels for book committee, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, MS of German gunman in Chicago, Shakespeare, to replenish, Middlemarch, the Gospel, City of God, St. John of the Cross, psalm or two a day, Ibsen, Twenty Best Plays of the Modern American Theatre, poems submitted to Criterion, My Name is Million, psalms, especially Psalm 130, Edmund Burke, Lives of the Poets, Virgil,
Richardson, Samuel, unread by TSE,
Soulié, Marguerite,
Walpole, Horace, TSE suggests EH and he read letters of,
Weaver, Harriet Shaw, invited to tea, TSE's fondness for, in thumbnail,

5.HarrietWeaver, Harriet Shaw Shaw Weaver (1876–1961), English editor and publisher, and political activist, whom Virginia Woolf described as ‘modest judicious & decorous’ (Diary, 13 Apr. 1918). In 1912, Weaver offered financial support to the Freewoman, a radical periodical founded and edited by Dora Marsden, which was renamed in 1913 (at the suggestion of Ezra Pound) The Egoist. Weaver became editor in 1914, turning it into a ‘little magazine’ with a big influence in the history of literary modernism. Following in the footsteps of Richard Aldington and H.D., TSE became assistant editor in 1917 (having been nominated by Pound) and remained so until it closed in 1919. When Joyce could not secure a publisher for A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Weaver in 1917 converted the Egoist into a press to publish it. She went on to publish TSE’s first book, Prufrock and Other Observations (1917), Pound’s Quia Pauper Amavi, Wyndham Lewis’s novel Tarr, Marianne Moore’s Poems, and other notable works. (She played a major role as Joyce’s patron, served as his literary executor, and helped to put together The Letters of James Joyce.)