MITFORD, Nancy Freeman
(1904-1973). Novelist & biographer.
Good collection of 17 Autograph Letters Signed and 8 postcards signed variously 'Nancy Mitford', 'Nancy Rodd', 'Nancy' & 'NM', to Brian Pearce, primarily from Paris, 1967-1972. The wit for which she was so well known as a correspondent shows through these letters, even when she was in great pain and most desperately ill with the cancer which was shortly to end her life.
'... I'm fascinated by what you say of the archives of St G[ermain] des Près - what a lot of French stuff there is in Russia. I've just done an essay on Carlyle & F[rederick] the Great & remarked, though it's perhaps not very original, that whereas modern historians put everything down to economic trends the 19th cent English ones put everything down to religion. I suppose it's because the modern ones despise this attitude that they avert their eyes from the Wars of Religion. ...'
'... You might go & see Mr Buchanan at the bookshop [Heywood Hill] ... . Sometimes they print little things in limited editions for sophisticated customers (a few dirty words if there are any might be a help!!). ...'
'... The awful thing about being ill nowadays is that nobody takes an interest in you - all the doctors spend their time either I suppose transplanting hearts or else patching up road accident victims. When I was young the Dr used to pop in to see how you were. It was more comfortable. In 5 weeks I've only seen doctors twice - my own & the specialist. I hope they are praying for one but doubt it! ...'
[After reading Washington Square] '... My view about marrying for money is that people must have a reason for falling in love & that is often money, but doesn't prevent a marriage from being as happy as when founded on other reasons: sex, power & so on! I would like to have had a word with the doctor! But I think he was one of those fathers unable to bear the idea of his daughter marrying at all. ...'
'... Misprints. I was thinking, while reading for Frederick, how old books never have them. They are among the wonders of progress. Partisan for artisan is rich. The worst is that the reader NEVER twigs.'
'... Noel Coward really was I.S. here (in a cloak & dagger flat with 3 entrances) but I am NOT (far too deaf & dotty I fear). ...'
[No: 6237]
