[No surviving envelope]
Letter 28.
[15 August] 1944
I like to think of you enjoying the sea breezes at Grand Manan, and I hope in congenial, or not un-congenial company. ISecond World Warits effect on TSE;b3 wish with all my heart that I could be there for a month, away (I presume) from the noise of aeroplanes and other reminders of war – and I wish also that the times were such that one was uninterested in listening to the news, which becomes, during the last few days, more absorbing than ever. It is curious that in war time one should be distracted from the work one wants to do, by things that one only does because it is war time, and yet the war makes these things seem all the more trivial. IWhat is a Classic?enjoyable to write;a5 didVirgil Society, TheTSE's Presidental Address for;a3 rather enjoy writing my discourse for the Virgil Society: but'What is Minor Poetry?';a1 IAssociation of Bookmen of Swansea and West Walespaper prepared for;a1 am not taking much pleasure in my lecture to the booklovers of Swansea, which has to be rather simple – about ‘what is minor poetry?’ I am writing; andtravels, trips and plansTSE's abortive 1944 North Africa mission;f3;a9 after that, unlessBritish Counciland TSE's abortive North Africa mission;a6 the British Council do decide that there is no longer any point in going to North Africa (and it seems to approach nearer to pointlessness every day), revising a Swedish lecture in addition to the two lectures I have already prepared, which have gone out there to be translated into French for me. OnShamley Wood, Surreydaily and weekly life at;a3 the other hand, I admit that I have been rather lazy, lately, excusing it on the ground that it is August, and that one is more tired every year, and it is pleasant to sit under a tree eating the Shamley figs which are just ripe. Last Wednesday I had a party of American sergeants, who think they may be leaving soon, in for the evening; oh yes, and was given lunch by an author, of Lobster salad and champagne, with cream cheese, coffee and a liqueur, and that is a very memorable event, I can tell you, as I don’t think I had tasted champagne for five years.
You see that I really have no news and no wisdom to communicate and am only meandering on. IFaber and Faber (F&F)fire-watching duties at;e6 don’t think I shall attempt to take even a whole week off in Shamley, until September; as my office is, at the moment, rather short of fire-watchers: and as I have the advantage which no one else has, of being able to spend six nights a week in the country, I don’t feel entitled to a full holiday as well. If it were worth while trying to go away, say to the Highlands, it would be different: but I know that if I stayed here I should simply pass my week as I do at present, in work and pottering. I suppose if I wasn’t so lazy I could enjoy holidays with a better conscience.
IHale, Emilyappearance and characteristics;v7EH encouraged to gain weight;a8 hope thatHale, Emilyappearance and characteristics;v7EH encouraged to tan;a9 when you get well sun-burnt, and perhaps a bit stouter, someone will take a snapshot of you. I haven’t seen any portrait, you know, with the new coiffeur.