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I am leading only an interim existence, as I find it impossible to do any of the things I want to do. In19 Carlyle Mansions, Londonrefurbishments to;a5 the first place, there is this flat, with all its problems such as I have never had to deal with before, and which are immensely more difficult to deal with now than ever before. I have this week to see my solicitor and discuss the lease with him to see if there are any conditions to protest about. I have to consider whether it is better to try to get an electric cooker, as that may just be possible; gas cookers being unobtainable and the builder says the gaspipe is too small to give a good pressure on the gas cooker (very rusty) which is in the flat. ThenHayward, Johnand Carlyle Mansions;m1 there is the problem of finding somebody to fit John’s curtains to the windows, and of finding material for the other windows; and there is the problem of floorcovering. The kitchen, bathroom and long passage need lino, and that is almost unobtainable and what there is expensive and not very good quality. Then there will be getting the furniture in and where to put it. Finally there will be the problem of getting a housekeeper; and this is as important as any and one of the most difficult. Once the place can be made habitable, and a housekeeper secured, John can take over any further arrangements; but he can’t do much from Cambridge, and he has nowhere to stay in London. I try to think of one problem at a time and not worry about the others; but it is all very distracting, to a person of worrying temperament; and even if I was otherwise in a position to be doing any of the work I want to do, I don’t think I should be able to settle down to it. And everybody else has his own problems. My health is improving, though I still have to have treatment twice a week, and be rather careful what I eat or drink, take my tea very weak and remember to avoid beer and wine (not that the latter is difficult, except occasionally dining out) and anything fizzy. And there are always French men turning up who have to be seen. FrankMorley, Frank Vigor;l1 Morley is here until after Christmas, officially as a representative of his firm on business; he spends half the week with his family in Cambridge, and the rest in London. Hetravels, trips and planspossible post-war American visit;f6possibly as F&F's representative;a7 suggests to me that the best way of getting to America next year would be as a representative of Faber & Faber. It would mean spending some of my time in New York, of course, and mixing with publishers and literary folk there; but on the other hand it would spare me from having to give lectures, and I should not have such a public rôle. I fear, of course, that however I come, it will be difficult to avoid some public speaking and reading. The best time, perhaps, would be to make it overlap with the beginning of the summer; when you would have finished your term, andEliot, Henry Ware, Jr. (TSE's brother);j4 whenEliot, Theresa Garrett (TSE's sister-in-law);d3 IEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister);e3 could get away to the country with Henry and Theresa and Marian. But the immediate thing is to get into the flat, and get well.
I have not heard from you since I last wrote, and I am anxious for a description of the routine of your life in the new lodging. TheSecond World Warand post-war European prospects;e9 prospectEuropeits post-war condition;a9 is depressed by the thought, which I can never forget for very long, of the terrible suffering in Europe this winter. I went with a deputation to call on the Minister of Food, the other day, but we did not find him very intelligent or sympathetic, though the leaders of the deputation were members of his own party. I have also to see a man in the Foreign Office next week, to propose a scheme for getting a few Poles to this country on visits, and I am in touch with a man of the Rockefellar [sic] Foundation who might be interested. TheRobertson, Sir Malcolm;a1 BritishBritish Council;a9 Council ought to be helping in these ways, but as yet no one has been appointed as the head of it, to succeed Malcolm Robertson,1 so there is no one to take initiative and responsibility. IMurder in the Cathedral1945 Théâtre du Vieux Colombier production;g2reaches 150 performances;b1 have had to decline another invitation from the Vieux Colombier – to attend the 150th performance of Murder. I have not heard anything yet in response to my enquiries about getting my royalties from it – not that that is in any way the theatre’s fault. RonaldDuncan, RonaldThis Way to the Tomb;a5 Duncan’sBrowne, Elliott Martinand This Way to the Tomb;d9 play is very good, andMercury Theatre, Londonhosts New Plays by Poets;c7 I believe that Martin is making a success of it; only, as it has to have a small orchestra, and a fairly large cast, it is not very profitable in such a small theatre as the Mercury, as it only pays if the house is constantly crowded.2 ISartre, Jean-PaulHuis-Clos;a2 will send you a copy of the play ‘Huis-Clos’, which was the success of 1944 at the Vieux Colombier, and which ran until they put on Murder. It is very grim, and you won’t like it; but it [was] technically a real tour de force: there are only three actors, who are all on the stage the whole time, and there is no action, yet the interest and suspense never fail. FundamentallyO'Neill, Eugenepure 'sensationalism';a3, I think it is just sensationalism, like Eugene O’Niell [sic].
That is all my news, and I am longing for yours.
1.SirRobertson, Sir Malcolm Malcolm Robertson (1877–1951), diplomat and politician – Ambassador to Argentina, 1927–9; Conservative MP for Mitcham, Surrey, 1940–5 – served as Chairman of the British Council, 1941–5.
2.See Browne, Two in One, 158–64.
4.E. MartinBrowne, Elliott Martin Browne (1900–80), English director and producer, was to direct the first production of Murder in the Cathedral: see Biographical Register.
3.RonaldDuncan, Ronald Duncan (1914–82): British poet, playwright, librettist, autobiographer: see Biographical Register.
3.HenryEliot, Henry Ware, Jr. (TSE's brother) Ware Eliot (1879–1947), TSE’s older brother: see Biographical Register.
1.Marian/MarionEliot, Marion Cushing (TSE's sister) Cushing Eliot (1877–1964), fourth child of Henry Ware Eliot and Charlotte Eliot: see Biographical Register.
11.JohnHayward, John Davy Hayward (1905–65), editor and critic: see Biographical Register.
4.FrankMorley, Frank Vigor Vigor Morley (1899–1980), American publisher and author; a founding editor of F&F, 1929–39: see Biographical Register.
2.EugeneO'Neill, Eugene O’Neill (1888–1953), American playwright; author of works including Anna Christie (1920); The Emperor Jones (1920); The Hairy Ape (1922); All God’s Chillun Got Wings (1924); Desire Under the Elms (1924); Mourning Becomes Electra (1931); The Iceman Cometh (1940); Long Day’s Journey into Night (1941, 1956). Nobel Prize, 1936.
1.SirRobertson, Sir Malcolm Malcolm Robertson (1877–1951), diplomat and politician – Ambassador to Argentina, 1927–9; Conservative MP for Mitcham, Surrey, 1940–5 – served as Chairman of the British Council, 1941–5.