[22 Paradise Rd., Northampton, Mass.]

T. S.Eliot
EmilyHale
TS
No. 44.
4 June 1940
Dearest Emily,

Your letters 36 and 39, of the 5th and 24th May respectively, arrived yesterday; 37 I had already received and acknowledged. Presumably no. 38 is on the way by ordinary mail. No. 39 had been opened by censor, no. 36 had not. There would seem again to be a considerable difference between air and sea. I was very glad to know that you had had my cable. Eventravels, trips and plansTSE's abortive 1940 Italian mission;d8cancelled;a9 if nothing happens in the next week, I do not suppose that my visit to Italy would have done much good at this time, though I am glad that the decision was taken out of my hands. The Italians are an odd people in some ways. ICastelli, Alberto;a1 have been corresponding for a long time with a priest at a seminary in Milan, who seems a very nice person, who has been translating ‘Murder’. Now he writes pathetically to say that just as he has finished his work, another translation has been published.1 I must write at once and explain to him that I knew nothing about this, never heard of the translator before, and am very sorry. It’s altogether a violation of copyright, but I do not see that anything can be done about it at present, except that if my priest wants to print this or any other translation from my work I will write a preface for him to indicate that this is the authorised translation. A year or two ago I had a correspondence with two other Italians, both of whom were translating some of my poems, and who were very angry with each other.

Thetravels, trips and plansTSE's 1940 visit to Dublin;d9approved by Foreign Office;a1 visit to Dublin is likely to be transferred from the 23d to the 30th, as they say that the Abbey Theatre is to be closed for repairs on the first date, and they particularly want to have the meeting there. VansittartVansittart, Sir Robertapproves TSE's visit to Dublin;a5 approves of this visit, and I have written to someone else who will help me with the necessary formalities.

I was glad to have some small news from you, as well as the letters for their own sake: because any reminder of normality is helpful. AudenAuden, Wystan Hugh ('W. H.')circulating drollery on latest book-title;c4 andIsherwood, Christopherpost-exodus drollery on;a5 Isherwood are not especially popular here now. (You had better not circulate my comments, however). AudenAuden, Wystan Hugh ('W. H.')Journey to a War (with Isherwood);c7 went out to Spain for a time during the civil war, and then he and Isherwood went out to China and wrote a book called ‘Journey to a War’. Someone has now suggested that they should write a book called ‘Journey from a War’. Auden, at least, is I am told getting naturalised. He has the peculiar and somewhat defective mentality of the inverted. I find it rather hard myself not to criticise these émigrés rather severely. ISpencer, Theodorespeaks with EH;c6 was amused by your account of his dialogue with Ted Spencer. I am glad he did not say ‘Eliot’, because I do not hold with his kind of pot-pourri (sometimes very pourri) of verse and prose, which seems to me an evasion of the problems of verse drama: onIbsen, Henrikas dramatist;a2 the other hand I don’t think Ibsen was a very happy choice either. The second part of that play seems to be unsuccessful: Ibsen is at his best when he deals with Norwegians in Norway.

The weather has been appallingly fine this year. IMcKnight Kauffers, the;b1 shallReads, the;a5 be beginning to take occasional weekends: this weekend the Kauffers and next weekend the Reads; after that nothing I think until I go to Dublin. Don’t suppose, my dear, that I don’t realise that this summer is going to be harder for you than for me; but, please God, after the next four months things will be better. And even with all that there is on the other side of the balance, this country seems to have quickened into a healthier condition than at any time in the last twenty years. ItChurchill, Sir Winston Leonard Spenceras successor to Chamberlain;a4 is a good deal (don’t think I say this snobbishly, but in great earnest) just to have a man at the head of things who comes of a good family – to say nothing of his other remarkable personal qualities. I hope that the age of the commercialist is over. Some people are more to be pitied than blamed because they go on thinking in terms of a world that has gone.

Your loving
Tom

1.AlbertoCastelli, Alberto Castelli (1907–71), who was ordained priest in 1930, taught Language and Literature for many years at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan. In 1961 he was to be elected Titular Archbishop of Rhusium; Vice-President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, 1966–70. Father Castelli reported to TSE on 21 May 1940 that he had given up working on his translation of Murder in the Cathedral, having been informed from Rome that another translation was to go into production. See Assassinio nella Cattedrale (Milano, Firenze, Roma: Bompiani, 1947): an authorised translation of the fourth English edn. by Alberto Castelli.

Auden, Wystan Hugh ('W. H.'), and EP's 'Seafarer', TSE sends EH Poems, TSE recites 'To Gabriel Carritt', remembered by Ethel Swan, as dramatist, and Yeats's Mercury Theatre plans, Holmesian prank devised for, Doone wants for Westminster Theatre, collaborative efforts lamented by TSE, talks films at JDH's, strays from F&F, preoccupied with Byron and Barcelona, TSE on 'Letter to Lord Byron', as verse dramatist, away in Aragon for premiere, and Isherwood's plays versus Spender's, forgets to thank Keynes, TSE on his Isherwood plays, condoles TSE over Sandburg accusation, in bad odour, in America, circulating drollery on latest book-title, as pictured by TSE in America, Journey to a War (with Isherwood), Letters from Iceland (with MacNeice), New Year Letter, On the Frontier (with Isherwood), Paid on Both Sides, The Ascent of F6 (with Isherwood), The Dance of Death, The Dog Beneath the Skin (with Isherwood),

10.W. H. AudenAuden, Wystan Hugh ('W. H.') (1907–73), poet, playwright, librettist, translator, essayist, editor: see Biographical Register.

Castelli, Alberto,

1.AlbertoCastelli, Alberto Castelli (1907–71), who was ordained priest in 1930, taught Language and Literature for many years at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan. In 1961 he was to be elected Titular Archbishop of Rhusium; Vice-President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, 1966–70. Father Castelli reported to TSE on 21 May 1940 that he had given up working on his translation of Murder in the Cathedral, having been informed from Rome that another translation was to go into production. See Assassinio nella Cattedrale (Milano, Firenze, Roma: Bompiani, 1947): an authorised translation of the fourth English edn. by Alberto Castelli.

Churchill, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer, reviews Cooper's Haig, commendable speeches, compared to Halifax as orator, as successor to Chamberlain, 'Their Finest Hour', EH attends his Harvard address, as do Henry and Theresa, remarks on Basic English, compared to Bevin, unsuited to peacetime office, broadcast on King's death, as public figure,
Ibsen, Henrik, compared to Chekhov, as dramatist, The Lady from the Sea, Rosmersholm, When We Dead Awake,
Isherwood, Christopher, responsible for the best of F6, should pursue prose plays alone, neglects to thank Keynes, puts TSE off American expedition, post-exodus drollery on,
see also Auden, Wystan Hugh ('W. H.')
McKnight Kauffers, the, look in on Eliots' dinner, accompany TSE to Dance of Death, drop in on Boxing Day, their marital problems, celebrate JDH's birthday, TSE's sense of obligation to, host TSE in New York, see TSE off at La Guardia,
Reads, the, take TSE to Toscanini, give TSE refuge during Blitz, house TSE's possessions,
Spencer, Theodore, offers TSE suite in Eliot House, looks after TSE, shares whisky and conversation with TSE, talks poetry till late, appears deaf during first Norton lecture, hosts TSE after the first Norton lecture, and English 26, learns to tie tie from TSE, and Matthiessen co-direct Dekker, TSE shares homosexual experiences with, hails Burnt Norton, worth discussing American politics with, speaks with EH, and TSE's honorary Harvard degree, dies of heart attack,
see also Spencers, the

2.TheodoreSpencer, Theodore Spencer (1902–48), writer, poet and critic, taught at Harvard, 1927–49: see Biographical Register.

travels, trips and plans, EH's 1930 trip to England, EH's proposed 1931 England visit, called off, EH's 1932 summer holidays, the Eliots' Derby Day excursion, related, the Eliots' July 1932 Hindhead visit, the Eliots' August 1932 Eastbourne holiday, described, TSE's 1932–3 year in America, Norton Professorship offered to TSE, and the prospect of reunion with EH, which TSE refuses to see as decisive, which angers EH, who writes and destroys a response, TSE's financial imperatives, TSE's itinerary, and the question of discretion, opportunity for adventurous lecture-tours, TSE speculates on attendant feelings, TSE on the voyage over, TSE reflects on, TSE's return from, the Eliot family's Randolph holiday, TSE's 1933 westward tour to Scripps, proposed to EH, and TSE's need to lecture, possibly via St. Louis, TSE's itinerary, possible stopover in Seattle, a shameful source of happiness, still a happy thought, described by Havens and others, TSE reflects on, TSE's return from, TSE wonders at after-effect on EH, EH urged to reflect honestly on, Ada on, and a conversation about divorce, in EH's recollection, possible EH 1933 summer in England, TSE's 1933 Faber summer holiday, set for mid-August, postponed, rearranged, TSE buys summer outfits for, described, TSE's 1933 tour of Scotland, possible itinerary, Morley's preparations for, described for EH, TSE's 1933 trip to Paris, mooted, described, EH's 1934–5 year in Europe, TSE delighted at the prospect, attempts to coordinate with TSE's 1934 summer plans, the Perkinses due in Chipping Camden, EH's itinerary, TSE's initial weekend at Chipping Campden, TSE books rooms in Lechlade, TSE visits Campden again with family, and again alone, which visit TSE reflects on, TSE's plans to entertain EH en route to Europe, EH's continental itinerary, VHE and propriety inhibit pre-Paris arrangements, L'Escargot lunch, weekend in Sussex for EH's birthday, possible London tea-party, second lunch at L'Escargot, EH and TSE's November excursions, a month which TSE reflects happily on, EH's summer 1935 plans, EH departs England, EH in Florence, arrived in Rome, TSE coordinating with EH's return, TSE recommends Siena, EH returns to Florence, EH sails for Riviera, EH returns from France, L'Escargot lunch on EH's return, EH sails for Guernsey, May 1935, EH's June 1935 London sortie, TSE attends Dr Perkins's birthday, TSE's July 1935 Campden week, TSE offers to fund EH in London, where EH joins Jeanie McPherrin, TSE's Campden birthday weekend, prospect of EH spending month at Blomfield Terrace, Thorp theatre outing, TSE's 6–8 September Campden weekend, EH staying at 19 Rosary Gardens, EH to Campden for 15–17 November, EH sails for Boston, EH and TSE's final farewell, TSE and EH's final weeks in London, their excursion to Finchampstead, TSE reflects on, excursion to Greenwich, EH reflects on the final weeks of, TSE's 1934 Faber summer holiday, described, TSE's dream of Cairo, TSE's invitation to Finland, palmed off on Robert Nichols, TSE's 1935 tour of Scotland, proposed by Blake, attempts to coordinate with EH, TSE's itinerary, TSE's 1935 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, described, TSE's 1936 visit to Ireland, TSE's itinerary, recounted, TSE's spring/summer 1936 trip to Paris, first contemplated, date fixed, Morleys invited, TSE's itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1936 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, TSE's 1936 American trip, spring arrival dependent on New York Murder, if not spring, then autumn, possible excursions, autumn better for seeing EH, and possible Princeton offer, and possible Smith visit, efforts to coordinate with EH, passage on Alaunia booked, TSE's itinerary, Murder to pay for, coordinating with Eliot Randolph holiday, the moment of parting from EH, TSE's birthday during, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1937 tour of Scotland, itinerary, recounted, the Morley–Eliot 1937 trip to Salzburg, contemplated, itinerary, EH receives postcard from, described, as relayed to OM, EH's 1937 summer in England, and Mrs Seaverns, EH accompanies TSE to Edinburgh, itinerary coordinated with EH, dinner at L'Escargot, TSE's 10–11 July Campden visit, TSE's 17–22 July Campden visit, TSE's 21 August Campden visit, EH travels to Yorkshire, TSE reminisces about, TSE's 1937 Faber summer holiday, TSE reports from, leaves TSE sunburnt, TSE's 1938 trip to Lisbon, outlined to EH, TSE advised on, travel arrangements, the voyage out, described, EH's 1938 summer in England, and whether EH should spend it at Campden, EH's arrival confirmed, TSE's July Campden visit, EH's late-July London stay, TSE's 5–21 August Campden fortnight, TSE's 3–6 September Campden visit, EH's September London stay, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1938 Faber summer holiday, TSE's preparations for, TSE reports from, possible EH England Christmas 1938 visit, possible TSE 1939 visit to America, mooted for spring, complicated by Marion and Dodo's trip, shifted to autumn, threatened by war, made impossible, EH's 1939 England visit, TSE's efforts to coordinate with, threatened by war, complicated by Marion's arrival, EH's itinerary, EH's initial London stay, TSE's 7–20 July Campden visit, TSE's 22–30 August Campden visit, TSE's 2–4 September Campden visit, EH again London, EH and TSE's parting moments, in TSE's memory, memory vitiated by EH's subsequent letter, TSE's 1939 Faber summer holiday, TSE writes from, possible wartime transatlantic crossings, contingencies, in case of EH being ill, TSE's reasons for and against, and TSE's New York proposition, following invasion Denmark and Norway, impossible for TSE unless official, TSE's desire to remain in England, TSE's reasons for and against accepting lectureship, given Ada's impending death, TSE's abortive 1940 Italian mission, possible but confidential, lectures prepared for, and the prospect of seeing EP, might include Paris, itinerary, in jeopardy, final preparations for, cancelled, TSE's 1940 visit to Dublin, approved by Foreign Office, in national interest, itinerary, recounted, involves TSE's first plane-journey, TSE's 1940 Faber summer holiday, TSE reports from, TSE's 1941 Faber summer holiday, Kipling and fishing-rod packed for, TSE reports from, TSE's 1941 Northern tour, proposed by the Christendom group, arranged with Demant, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1942 British Council mission to Sweden, TSE makes cryptic allusion to, as recounted to EH, as recounted to JDH, return leg in London, as war-work, TSE's 1942 New Forest holiday, described, TSE's 1942 week in Scotland, recounted, TSE's abortive 1942 Iceland mission, TSE's 1943 trip to Edinburgh, recounted, TSE's abortive 1943 Iceland mission, TSE's 1943 New Forest holiday, TSE's 1944 trip to Edinburgh, TSE's abortive 1944 North Africa mission, TSE's May 1945 trip to Paris, described, TSE's June 1945 trip to Paris, recounted, possible post-war American visit, and Henry's impending death, ideally ancillary to work, possibly as F&F's representative, waits on TSE's health and Carlyle Mansions, TSE's 1945 September fortnight in Lee, described, TSE's 1945 Christmas in Lee, described, TSE's 1946 summer in America, date for passage fixed, paperwork for, TSE's itinerary, its aftermath, recounted, TSE's 1947 summer in America, dependent on lecture engagements, TSE seeks to bring forward, Henry's condition brings further forward, set for April, itinerary, EH reflects on, TSE's scheduled December 1947 visit to Marseilles and Rome, itinerary, TSE's preparations for, dreaded, Roman leg described by Roger Hinks, EH's hypothetical March 1948 visit to England, TSE's postponed 1948 trip to Aix, itinerary, recounted, home via Paris, TSE's 1948 trip to America, itinerary, TSE's visit to EH in Andover, disrupted by Nobel Prize, TSE's 1948 Nobel Prize visit to Stockholm, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1949 family motor-tour of Scotland, described, TSE's October–November 1949 trip to Germany, possible itinerary, preparations for, final itinerary, TSE's account of, the return via Belgium, TSE's January 1950 voyage to South Africa, all but fixed, itinerary, described by TSE, recounted by Faber, EH's 1950 summer in England, TSE books EH's hotel room for, TSE's efforts to coordinate with EH's movements, EH in Campden, TSE reports to Aunt Edith on, TSE's 1950 visit to America, and TSE's possible Chicago post, the Chicago leg, November itinerary, TSE's spring 1951 trip to Spain, itinerary, recounted, TSE's September 1951 Geneva stay, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1951 British Council mission to Paris, recounted, TSE's second 1951 British Council mission to Paris, recounted, TSE's 1952 visit to Rennes and the Riviera, itinerary, recounted, TSE's 1952 visit to America, itinerary, efforts to coordinate with EH's summer, TSE on meeting with EH, TSE's 1952 rest cure in Switzerland, TSE's 1953 visit to St. Louis and America, set for June, to include fortnight in Cambridge, itinerary, EH's 1953 trip to England, EH's Alnwick plans, TSE books hotel for EH, and EH's ticket to Confidential Clerk, TSE's 1953 visit to Geneva, TSE's 1953–4 trip to South Africa, itinerary, described, arrival described to JDH, GCF on, TSE's 1954 Geneva rest cure, Geneva preferred to Paris, TSE's deferred 1955 visit to Hamburg, prospect inspires reluctance in TSE, proposed for spring 1955, dreaded, TSE now returned from, TSE's 1955 visit to America, and contingent speaking engagements, foreshortened, itinerary, Washington described, TSE's return from, TSE's 1955 Geneva rest cure, TSE's 1956 visit to America, passage fixed for April, itinerary, TSE in the midst of, TSE reflects on, TSE's 1956 Geneva rest cure, itinerary, recounted, illness during, EH's 1957 visit to England, TSE and EVE invited to Campden, TSE reciprocates with London invitation, but EH leaves England abruptly, which TSE consults Eleanor Hinkley over, who duly explains, TSE and EVE's 1958 trip to America, as rumoured to EH, EH's 1959 tour of Scandinavia, funded by bequest from cousin, TSE and EVE's 1959 trip to America, TSE and EVE's 1963 trip to America,
Vansittart, Sir Robert, and TSE's invitation to Finland, removed from office, possible wartime employer for TSE, TSE writes in sympathy to, approves TSE's visit to Dublin, post-retirement lunch with,

2.SirVansittart, Sir Robert Robert Vansittart (1881–1957), diplomat and author: see Biographical Register.