BRACERS Record Detail for 116363

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Collection code
RA3
Recent acquisition no.
596
Document no.
201124
Box no.
6.63
Recipient(s)
Malleson, Constance
Sender(s)
BR
Date
1918/07/31*
Form of letter
TL(TC)
Pieces
1
Notes, topics or text

A transcription of few sentences from original letter fragment, document 200323, record 19336.

The remainder of the text of this letter could not be matched to any other letter in Rec. Acq. 596, 200000 series. Thus it is the only source for this text.

Part of the section of the letter dated "Friday July 26" is not found in the original letter fragment. All of the text beginning "Wednesday" is new.

There is also another transcription which mostly matches this one in text: document .052423, record 99884. It lacks "July" in the date, however. This version keeps "most true" from the original.

Transcription

Letter 55
BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [31 JULY 1918]
BRACERS 116363. TL(TC). McMaster
Previous Brixton letter, BRACERS 116688; next letter, BRACERS 19338
Edited by K. Blackwell, A. Bone, N. Griffin and S. Turcon


<Brixton Prison>1
Wednesday2

The wrong sort of Wednesday,3 but I hope for a letter. Darling, your letters4 are the most unspeakable joy to me. They make just all the difference. And they are so beautiful.

I am much happier — two-thirds of our time5 gone! Please give Elizabeth my very best love, and tell her I do hope she won’t leave my brother before I come out, but if she does, she must always keep in touch with me — she will always have my affection. (Telephone, not writing.)

I am longing for news of you — it was dreadful seeing you so unhappy last time.6 Dearest Darling, when I come out you shall be as happy as love can make you.

This day week, when I see you, it will be six weeks till I come out.7 Goodbye Beloved. Try to feel my spirit with you and my arms about you, and whatever trouble you have, my heart is with you always.

 

  • 1

    [document] The letter was extracted from that part beginning “Wednesday” of a typescript, document 201124 in the Malleson papers in the Russell Archives. This document is a typed transcription made by Colette at an unknown date. A manuscript version of this text could not be found. The earlier part of the typescript constitutes Letter 49. There is a second typing of the two texts at RA1 710.052423.

  • 2

    [date] Since this letter, dated simply “Wednesday”, was typed below the transcription of another letter, which was dated “Friday 26th” on the same sheet, it is assumed that the current letter should be dated Wednesday, 31 July.

  • 3

    wrong sort of Wednesday That is, a Wednesday when Colette was not going to visit him in prison.

  • 4

    your letters Colette was a regular sender of letters once the smuggling plan went into effect. Before that she sent messages via The Times and in the “official” letters.

  • 5

    two-thirds of our time BR meant that two-thirds of his sentence had been served, on the assumption of an early release date of about 2 October.

  • 6

    seeing you so unhappy last time In Letter 47 BR had also mentioned Colette’s sadness during her prison visit of 23 July.

  • 7

    six weeks till I come out This projects a release time of mid-September 1918. BR was confident that his brother, Frank, would be able to secure this earlier than expected release. See note 3 on “Sep. 18” in Letter 52.

Permission
Everyone
Image
Transcription Public Access
Yes
Record no.
116363
Record created
Jun 26, 2014
Record last modified
Jul 24, 2021
Created/last modified by
blackwk