collection wartime letters forster de forster e m (1 résultats)

Etat : Near Fine. A small cache of eight autograph letters and cards by the acclaimed author E.M. Forster, best known for *A Room with a View*, *Howards End*, and *A Passage to India*. The collection consists of five letters and three cards written to Robert Goodyear (1877-1948), an English author of popular fiction for boys, and of the novel *Mrs. Loveday* (1944). Written from Forster's house "West Hackhurst" to Goodyear in London (Russell Court), the letters feature good, varied content, in which Forster discusses several artworks by the gay American painter Paul Cadmus, and refers to various trips to London to broadcast for the BBC (and meet-up with Goodyear). For example, in a letter from 23 November, 1940 (transcribed only in part, as Forster's handwriting is difficult to read): Forster reflects on Cadmus and the blitz: "Thank you for your very nice letter, and for remembering about the [Paul] Cadmuses. I like their attractive grossness (that of Bruegel is [out to repel?], I think): particularly 'Horse Play'! and a looking glass version of 'Fleet's In' Yesterday I went to London to broadcast, first evacuating my household, which, with the whole village, was ordered off because of a land mine I am glad you like my novel and hope you will do something yourself. What I did isn't bad, but inevitably it dates, and is in the ethical and economic framework of its age / It is wretched having no[where?] of one's own to live in, if often occurs to me how little I have had to endure so far not even one night in a shelter. I'm glad your flat's not absolutely down and out, but it's a terribly dangerous district. If you are near the Imperial Institute some time, do look at the show of Indian Photographs which the Warburg Institute has staged. It's awfully intelligent and exciting I was broadcasting to India on it Yours, E.M. Forster" Forster also comments on Goodyear's novel Mrs. Loveday in a letter from 18 May 1942: "I have much enjoyed your serious and amusing novel. It all ran so naturally, and contrary to my internal prophesies, I kept my sympathy for Clare. I think it is a real triumph, not to have allowed her to say or do anything vulgar. Kate is of course adorable, and generally speaking the social presentation in the book is excellent. I do hope it gets published " (Forster reviewed the novel when it was published in 1944). A few letters are lightly toned, near fine. A thoughtful and revealing cache of letters deserving further research. A list of all eight letters and cards follows: 1. Post Card, Signed. West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. 23 May 1940. "It will be very nice to meet before you go off. I am coming up on Sunday night for a short time and hope something can be arranged, though evenings look a little difficult. I am lunching in your direction Tuesday, I think. / I will ring you, and see what can be done. My other phone no. will be Chiswick 2407. E.M. Forster" 2. ALS. Small quarto (7" x 9"). 2pp. West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. 23 November 1940. "Thank you for your very nice letter, and for remembering about the [Paul] Cadmuses. I like their attractive grossness (that of Bruegel is [out to repel?], I think): particularly 'Horse Play'! and a looking glass version of 'Fleet's In' / I have had a fairly good time lately Yesterday I went to London to broadcast, first evacuating my household, which, with the whole village, was ordered off because of a land mine. Now we are all as we were, with landmines too, I think. I am worried about them at Four [?], and still more about M. Wilson's business. I am glad you like my novel and hope you will do something yourself. What I did isn't bad, but inevitably it dates, and is in the ethical and economic framework of its age / It is wretched having no[where?] of one's own to live in, if often occurs to me how little I have had to endure so far not even one night in a shelter. I'm glad your flat's not absolutely down and out, but it's a terribly dangerous district. If you are near the Imperial Institute some time, do look at the show of Indian Photographs which the Warburg Institute has staged. It's awfully intelligent and exciting I was broadcasting to India on it. With every good wish & hoping we meet again before long: / Yours, E.M. Forster" [Note: Forster and Paul Cadmus were close friends] 3. ALS. Quarto. 2pp. West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. 18 May 1942. "I have much enjoyed your serious and amusing novel [Mrs. Loveday]. It all ran so naturally, and contrary to my internal prophesies, I kept my sympathy for Clare. I think it is a real triumph, not to have allowed her to say or do anything vulgar. Kate is of course adorable, and generally speaking the social presentation in the book is excellent. I do hope it gets published. I don't know whether it would be any help if I wrote [C-?] a line, saying I thought it good. / One technical criticism. Your paragraphing of conversations doesn't follow the conventual rules I didn't always know who was speaking [more comments, hard to decipher] With my congratulations, Yours, E M Forster " [Note: Forster reviewed *Mrs. Loveday* when it was published in 1944. See: The Creator as Critic and Other Writings by E.M. Forster] 4. Autograph Post Card, Signed. West Hackhurst, Abinger. Sunday [Postmark: Aug. 1942]. "I believe that John is to arrive in London on Tuesday at 12.0. and to meet near Piccadilly Underground at 7,0 If you get in with him between those hours would you please tell him that I hope he will leave time to come down to the flat to feed EMF" 5. ALS. 16mo (3" x 5"). 2pp. W.H. [West Hackhurst] 8 February 1943 [Hard to decipher] "I have come across Belchamber[?] Yours, EMF" 6. Autograph Post Card, Signed. W.H. [West Hackhurst] 14 April 1943. Real Photo Post Card: "Main Temple of Heianjingu" Japan; with British stamp. " If there is a hope of meeting next [?] EMF" 7. Autograph Letter, Signed. Octavo. 1p. W.H. [West Hackhurst], Friday [1943?]. " Yes.