Beschreibung:

Collection of letters addressed to John Hayward the bibliophile and flatmate of T.S. Eliot, including an autograph letter by "John", written on the headed writing-paper of Ian Fleming's Jamaican estate Goldeneye, describing life there in February 1955 ("...The Commander... has built himself a delightful refuge here. A romantic coral beach, with a shallow blue lagoon... an extensive garden, full of exotic bargain-basement flowers... a pleasant one-storied house, with a huge & comfortable sitting-room. Life is simple; and spirits only flow between ½ past 6 & 8 – I mean, of course, distilled spirits... The air & sea are always deliciously warm -- -- -- Captain E. Waugh was here for a couple of day; in unusually benevolent mood... Otherwise we have seen little company, apart from brief glimpses of Noel Coward & his entourage and Sir John Gielgud & his Oberon's court..."), the rest of the letter thanking Hayward for editorial advice on his book; other correspondents include Helen Gardner (a letter and card of 1948-9, announcing the completion of her book and sending Hayward a copy: "The book is finished & revised up to last chapter, which is a rewriting of the old article & needs another shake-up... I wanted you to read this, & didn't think it would come to your notice unless I sent it, as this kind of volume doesn't get reviewed or noticed except in mausoleums such as M.L.R. & R.E.S., which no sensible person reads", with jovial references to Eliot's spartan dining habits and a radio spoof); Sibyl Colefax William B. Ewald (sending Hayward The Masks of Jonathan Swift), Roger Senhouse (about Swift), and the Thackeray editor Gordon N. Ray