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An interesting range of content. See her entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including Books and Bookmen and Plays and Players. See Death of a Bookman by the novelist Sally Emerson (editor of Books and Bookmen at the time of Dosse s suicide), in Standpoint magazine, October 2018. The letter, with her printed letterhead, is somewhat worn and creased, the other four items are in good condition. Three items (including the letter) signed Doris Moore and one DLM . The cards are letters typed on unillustrated and unaddressed postcards (also with her printed letterhead); the unsigned typed note is on her printed compliments slip. ONE: TLS, 22 June 1976. 1p, 4to. She is enclosing her review of On Human Finery , noting: It can be cut, but in that case criticisms rather than compliments must go - except the vital last criticism that Quentin Bell s beautiful sartorial anarchy will lead to despotism . She turns to the subject of Viva (i.e. Viva King), whom she had known quite well in past years, and the book she is writing on Byron s daughter: Ada, Countess of Lovelace (1977). I recollect her telling me that Willie [i.e. Viva King s husband William King (1894-1958), British Museum curator] was descended from Byron via Ada, but as I had no interest in genealogy at that date (and very little now unless I m obliged to know it for what I am writing), I didn t enquire how. She discusses the matter, noting that Lady Bryon often exercised power for the mere sake of it , and commenting regarding a family feud: There ll be something about this in my forthcoming biography of Ada, but I have left out that, under her mother s influence, one of Ada s dying wishes was that her husband would not make it up with his brother. | However, Locke King attended her funeral. Perhaps Viva knows what the cause of hostility was. I hope she still has her fine house in Thurloe Square. TWO: TCS, 24 June 1976. She is sending a portrait for publication, noting that he might prefer something without a hat (though I always wear one) . THREE: TN on compliments slip, 30 December 1976. She apologises for not being able to give a happier review to the book by Arthur Calder-Marshall. It s really most feeble. [inserted here: The book, not the review I trust. ] I was going to the Channel Islands when I spoke to you on the telephone, and had only glanced at it; but having delayed reviewing till my return, I felt I couldn t say "After all I d rather not do it." FOUR: TCS, 14 March 1977. She has been in Eastbourne, where I had gone to grapple with the problems of my autobiography , and is glad Lady Longford is to review the books in question . The rest of the card concerns a harrowing experience concerning Dosse s mother: What a tactless moment to choose for a revelation requiring delicacy! [.] It reminds me very much of the appalling shock I felt when I learned that my ex-husband, whom I had divorced with great reluctance, to enable him to marry someone else, had actually been the lover of my daughter s nurse - and she was his new wife. [.] He died a year ago, and the "nurse" is now rich and I wondering how I can possibly go on keeping up this expensive house - where you must come and see me one day. This very personal disclosure I offer in exchange for yours. She ends: I was sorry about slating the Calder-Marshall book but what could I do? FIVE: TCS, 19 April 1977. Don t I get any payment for my review of the Calder-Marshall book? It was not the sort of work which will be much of an asset to my collection and as it was the first unfavourable review I have ever written, it was all the harder to do it. I shouldn t think many copies have been sold at that huge price - unless there are Arab oil sheiks wanting to know about ladies in the 18th century. She ends with praise of Books and Bookmen, which she reads from cover to cover, though slowly .
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