6 Malcolm Elwyn’s Life of Llewelyn Powys was published in 1946.
FROM Sydney Larkin1
2 March 1947
73 Coten End, Warwick
Dear Philip,
Just a line to convey our hearty congratulations on Michael Sadleir’s review.2 I was quite overcome by it.
Hoping you had a nice week end with Jim, and with love
Your affectionate
Father
1 On a roughly torn half sheet.
2 Review of A Girl in Winter in the Sunday Times. See next letter.
FROM Eva Larkin
3 March 1947
Beauchamp Lodge, 73 Coten End, Warwick
My dear Illustrious Creature!
I expect your first edition is sold out already.
Oh! what a day we had yesterday! We got up as usual, all un-suspecting that great tidings were coming to us, and when the Sunday Times arrived I opened it, remarking, “I wonder if Philip’s novel will be reviewed?” Daddy peered over my shoulder and spotted it first and said “read it out to me.” Well, I began to read it, but it was so marvellous that I had great difficulty in reading to the end – in fact both of us became very deeply moved. I consider it the most wonderful achievement, and am very, very proud.
Do you remember, when you were quite young, how you used to try to do big things in – I forget whether it was cricket or playing the drums, and I laughingly said “When you are famous, I shall be there waving my umbrella!” Well, my umbrella is waving wildly at the moment!
Your little sketch is lovely, but how fierce the great Creature looks! In a previous letter of yours you told us about the notice of ‘Winter’ in the T.L.S., and remarked upon the nice things that Faber’s said on the jacket, in a later letter, so that I immediately added a halo to your last Creature, feeling sure that one would descend upon it in due course.1
This morning Daddy rang up the Editor of the Coventry Telegraph and told him about the review and he has quoted it in tonight’s issue.
We were surprised to receive a letter from Mrs Bowen, Leigh, this morning. They had seen the announcement of “A Girl in Winter” in the Observer and wanted to know if it were you, or a namesake. She said they were going to order a copy.
We shall look out for the parcel from you. Thanks very much for signing Auntie Nellie’s.
I am going to enclose the review cutting along with it so that she will read it in the right spirit!
On the whole we feel two very ‘knocked into a cocked hat’ creatures after the surprises of the week-end – yes, we had another surprise on Saturday. The postman brought us a box with a Copenhagen postmark upon it. It puzzled us very much until we discovered that it had been sent at the direction of Alan & Edith in Canada.2 When we opened it we were astonished to find a nice piece of bacon, a tin of butter, a tin of honey, a tin of condensed milk and two packets of cream cheese. Isn’t it very kind of them to remember us.
I thought of you a lot yesterday, and pictured how happy you would feel in London with your friends, your good fortune, and the lovely sunshine.
It is a pleasant pastime watching the birds being fed. We have seen them in St. James’s Park upon the occasions when we have visited London.
Yes, the shortage of coal is a great calamity. Our dining room fire refuses to light, and so we have to stay altogether in the kitchen. I find great difficulty in drying to-day’s washing. The cold weather will come to an end soon, I am sure.
I bid you good bye, and I likewise bows. [sic]
Much love Mop
1 See Philip’s letter of 2 March 1947 for Eva’s added halo.
2 Alan Larkin (b. 1906), son of Sydney’s brother Alfred, had emigrated to Canada.
FROM Sydney Larkin1
14 July 1947
[73 Coten End, Warwick]
Dear Philip,
I said I would write but there is nothing to say of importance. You know of our Stratford Visit – it was a very fine show but there is something of the pearls and swine atmosphere in a visit of mine to a flower show – except, of course, that I can see that they are pearls, either real or sham. But in that junk shop between the town and station, where they have a few dusty books, I found “Holy Living” and “Holy Dying”,2 in nice condition, in Rivington’s Devotional series (red borders, gilt edge, cloth, book mark ribbon, published in 1900 & 1898 respectively, by Longmans Green & Co). I offered the man 2/6 for the two, which he accepted. I wished then I had offered 1/-.
I have recently read “Still she wished for Company”, Margaret Irwin3 – a daft book, but someone must have recommended it to me when I bought it but failed to read it – “Friendship’s Odyssey”4 which I enjoyed, in spite of its bad print, “Three Act Tragedy” Agatha Christie5 – silly as all crime stories are – “Sainte Colline”6 – very good but not so good as Clochemerle – and now “Master Sanguine”7 which, on second reading, is not so good as on first, but is much above the average of such books, if there is an average.
I went to lunch with the Mayor of Oxford (signalman on railway – “ex”) and afterwards we went round various buildings with the Chief Constable and his daughter (as guides) Christ Ch., Magdalen, New College, Sheldonian, quite interesting. The Sheldonian we were told seats 2,000 exclusive of the floor. It seems incredible.
I will try to see Carroll about the Biro pen. He may have other suggestions but his opinion before was that the Biro or any other similar pen was not worth more than 5/-.8
I read with great amusement G.L.S.’s letter on the Crazy Gang but confess that I had not the wit to attach a name to the initials – but it is so obvious now.9
Love,
Father
1 On sheets of office paper roughly torn in half; in the same envelope as a letter from Eva on embossed notepaper.
2 By Jeremy Taylor. They were originally published as The Rules and Exercises of Holy Living, 1650, and The Rules and Exercises of Holy Dying, 1651.
3 Margaret Irwin (1889–1969), novelist and biographer; Still She Wished for Company was published in 1924.
4 Friendship’s Odyssey: The Autobiography of Françoise Delisle and the Story of Havelock Ellis from 1916 to 1939 was published in 1946.
5 Agatha Christie’s Three Act Tragedy was published in Britain in 1935.
6 Gabriel Chevallier (1895–1969), best known as the author of Clochemerle (1934). Sainte Colline was published in English in 1937.
7 Ivor Brown (1891–1974). Master Sanguine: Who Always Believed What He Was Told was published in 1934.
8 On 21 July 1947 Eva wrote: ‘Then about the Biro. Daddy has not seen the advt. about the Roll Ball, but he enclosed this about the Bell.’ Enclosed with her letter was a newspaper cutting concerning ‘A NEW PEN’, priced at 29/4d (refills 4/11d). A letter from Sydney of 30 September is written with a ballpoint pen ‘(which, by the way, writes with unparalleled smoothness)’. However, on 6 October Sydney wrote: ‘I took your “Rolball” back to John Carroll’s and had my money back. He wasn’t in himself but they said I could have one of the next lot of Biros – “new ones” they said, as though of an improved pattern.’ Some draft passages in Larkin’s unfinished novel, A New World Symphony are in ballpoint.
9 Not obvious to this editor.
THE REMAINING LETTERS AND CARDS ARE FROM EVA LARKIN
3 July 19511
[Extract]
1 Date as postmark. Eva has misdated the card ‘June’. Between September 1950 and December 1951 Eva lived with her daughter at 53 York Road, Loughborough.
5 February 1952
21 York Road, Loughborough1
My dear Creature,
Have just come back from the sewing meeting, found my fire almost out, but being a well-ordered creature, I soon cheered it up with some sticks which I chopped a few days ago, and kept handy in case of an emergency like this.
Have also been busy in the cellar stacking the logs into a neat heap in the middle of the floor, ready for the workmen to clean it o
ut and lime-wash it. During the process I came upon a toad, I think it is a small toad, but he has started to crawl about and I don’t know what to do with him. I hesitate to put him in the garden for I don’t want him to be frozen during the night. I hope he doesn’t crawl up the cellar steps and I also hope I don’t tread on him unthinking when I go down. It is queer to think that there is another live thing in the house besides myself. I wonder what he eats, but I suppose he should be asleep at this time of the year. I might make a pet of him.
I have this afternoon paid the gas bill and also the stop tap bill. Whilst at the builders I asked them if they would do the cellar and put a Yale lock on the storeroom door, and make all the windows so that they could be opened and shut. A man is coming to-morrow to see what wants doing and will give me an estimate as to what it will cost.
I seem to do nothing but pay bills just now, and I really want more coal – only about five large lumps left now. If they don’t bring it I think I must make do with the Ideal boiler as I have plenty of coke.
I was so cheered by your postcard last Saturday morning, for I felt very depressed and miserable. It may partly have been due to my cold and the very cold weather, also being indoors all the time. Kitty had invited Mr & Mrs Deveril Mr Hewett and Connie and Ivor to tea for Saturday but Mr Hewett couldn’t come, so she asked me if I would like to go ‘to cheer me up’. I refused at first, but when I went down with some cutlery (lent for the occasion) she persuaded me to go. It was a very nice tea and did, I think do me some good, but I’m afraid they are all going to ask me to visit them now! Just what I don’t want!
Anyway, I’m sure the postman must smile at the pictorial addresses on your postcards.2 I have had a very nice letter from Mr Ralph in answer to mine.
Now I must answer your letter. I’m afraid you weren’t the only late creature last Sunday morning. You see this intensely cold weather puts me off turning out very early and consequently I never really get going here until half-past ten or sometimes eleven. Then Walter comes to do any jobs. Last Sunday he put up the curtain fixture over the drawing room door. I actually sat down to dinner (roast lamb, savoy, potatoes, apple pie) at ten minutes to two!
It didn’t take long to wash up and I soon caught up, and had tea at the usual time.
You would feel a trifle daunted when your visitors forgot the main course of your meal!
What a sacrilege though to turn chicken and ham in aspic into a ‘fry’! I’m sure the sweet would be nice and I must try it myself one day.3
What a sweet little sketch ‘at the grocers’. I’m afraid you are rather an extravagant creature though. Still I suppose you would spend more in rooms.
No. I have not seen the picture of the two sisters in the News of the World. I wonder what their recipe is for long life. Evidently they have made a success of living together and don’t get on each other’s nerves. What a lot must have happened during their 99 years!
About my sleeping here alone, I didn’t really feel brave because it didn’t frighten me one quarter as much as a thunderstorm, or the prospect of another war. I would sleep here always, but it would not do, the enforced loneliness all day and practically all night, and for ever, I’m sure wouldn’t do. What to do about it, I really don’t know. I could let the house, furnished, if the worst came to the worst (although I hope it won’t) perhaps I could stay a few months with A. Nellie, which wouldn’t cost as much as in a hotel or boarding house. They might not have room, though because Ian and Vivienne will soon need a room each.4
If funds will allow I think ‘Old Creature’ would like to have a little holiday with you somewhere. What county is Donegal in, Antrim? What a lovely drawing you’ve made – fancy an Irish Creature, too! One of our neighbours, on the opposite side of York Road died last week.
I am enclosing a cutting from the weekly paper. He was a very well known figure here.5 I thought the ‘appreciation’ was very good, in fact I actually wept a little over it.
Contrary to my usual custom I haven’t much left to write on this fresh sheet.6
Oh, one thing I wanted to ask you, were any walking sticks put in storage? I haven’t come across any here.
Last Saturday, being hard up for something for lunch, and having some boiled rice left from a curry and also some cold potatoes, I remembered the cheese balls which you concocted when you were here, so I made some very nice ones, all golden brown, and fried an egg, and so had quite an enjoyable lunch.
Every week I keep meaning to tell you that my next-door neighbour actually wears (when doing her housework) a ‘creature cap’, whilst the other neighbour comes out arrayed in a cotton bonnet like I used to wear when I was in my twenties.
I heard from Mrs Dexter today that she thinks Miss Jepps7 has gone into a sort of home in Surrey run to accommodate Clergymen who are visiting perhaps in London. I think she would try to help the staff in some way. I feel sorry for her, but it wouldn’t do for me to have her here.8 She could not help with the work or cooking and would only want to pay a small amount and I should have to buy her food, too. Her programme at Mrs Hunt’s was. Breakfast in bed. Down about 11 o’clock drink a glass of milk, then if fine, a walk until lunch. Rest until 4 o’clock, and then I think she did get a small afternoon tea. They had an evening meal which I think Mrs Hunt’s sister cooked. I expect Miss Jepps will come back though, in due course.
I suppose I ought to go down the cellar and see what ‘toadie’ is doing!9
Do you ever see Miss McDonnell?
No more now. All love
Old Mop
1 In December 1951 Eva moved into 21 York Road, Loughborough, a few doors from her daughter’s house on the same road. She lived there until admitted to Berrystead Nursing home two decades later in February 1972.
2 See Philip’s postcards of 25 January and 1 February 1952.
3 In his letter of 3 February 1952 Philip wrote: ‘The Strangs came round, having promised to bring supper, but when they arrived they had left it all behind. I therefore had to produce ham & chicken in aspic, a tomato or two, and some onions, which Patsy converted into a dubious fry. I had done my parti-coloured grapefruit as a sweet.’
4 The children of Nellie’s daughter Eva and her husband George Sutton.
5 Eva enclosed a cutting: ‘DEATH OF MR. J. A. MARTIN: Probably Oldest Working Journalist in Country’, memorialising James Alexander (‘Jimmy’) Martin, who had worked for forty-eight years for the Nottingham Guardian and died, still in post, at the age of eighty-three.
6 The third sheet: sides five and six.
7 Two of Eva’s religiously inclined friends.
8 Miss Jepps had originally responded to Eva’s advertisement for a paid companion.
9 On 9 February Eva wrote that, since workmen were coming to lime-wash the cellar, she had rescued ‘toadie’, and put him in the garden: ‘I found a nice sheltered niche for him, but after lunch when I went out to look for him, he had gone! Do you think a bird would eat him – he was only small.’ In the same letter Eva recorded her reaction to the death of King George VI.
7 August 1961
21 York Road, Loughborough
My very dear Creature,
First of all, many very happy returns of the day. I hope you do get this and the card on the 9th. I look forward to buying you a present when I arrive in Hull. I was so pleased to get your letter on Saturday and hope the week end was not so lonely as you anticipated.
Saturday here was un-settled in the morning with heavy rain and thunder just as I had served my lunch. I left it and fled down to Kitty’s. It did not last long so I came back and ate it, cold! I washed up quickly, and got washed and went out shopping for I had the usual Creature coming to tea on the Sunday.1 It was a lovely afternoon so I sat in the park until nearly 5 o’clock when I went to Mrs Dexter’s to tea. (What should I do without her!) Sunday was cloudy and unsettled. I went to the Communion Service with Mrs Dexter. We got caught in the rain coming back and just as I was getting lunch ready it thundered in the distance –
so I went into Mrs Coleman’s.2 It didn’t last long, but didn’t look at all promising but I managed to eat lunch and soon after it started again, and was worse than before. I put on my mac, but the rain was so heavy so I sat on the stairs, hoping it wouldn’t be too bad. It hailed and thundered, and lightened, but soon passed over, to my intense relief. I spent the afternoon in fear and trembling lest it should come on again. I managed to prepare tea, but, oh! What an upsetting time! Did you have any storms? I hope not, although I believe they were widespread on Sunday.
This evening is very gloomy, temperature at the back door 66°.
It is very good of you, Creature, to disrupt your day on Thursday to give me lunch and take me to the flat. I hope we shall arrive on time.
How kind of Mary3 to invite us there, Tuesday.
Just received your letter. I expect you will not4 be sorry to get back to the library after your lonely week-end. Mine would have been not too bad if the weather had not upset me.
What a nuisance over the fastening of the shed.
The morning is gloomy and rainy. I expect all our shops are shut, still, I don’t want anything.
Have got plenty to do including ironing and assembling all ready for packing. Must see Mr Perry to-day, sometime. I am glad to have plenty of jobs to keep me going.
All love again.
Hope we don’t keep you waiting on Thurs.
Old Creature
1 Philip.
2 Mrs Coleman was Eva’s next door neighbour.
3 Mary Wrench (later Judd), assistant in the Hull University Library.
4 The letter concludes on a smaller sheet, as often.
Philip Larkin Page 64