BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, [29 NOV. 1916]
BRACERS 19082. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<London?>

My loved one1^, 2

I was glad of your letter3 this morning. I am fearfully busy — I shall go to C.A’s Court Martial4 if I can — he wants me as a witness. I don’t know if they will let me go. I am writing a lot of stuff — I lectured today. Nicod5 says he will have to be re-examined medically and it may lead to their shooting him. War-depression is upon me — I have been idle lately — only work will rid me of the oppression of the war — I wish I had died before Aug. 1914. It is utter hell to be alive in these days — I saw Brockway’s case6 this morning. Now C.A. is to be sent back to prison at once — It is all so shameful. Oh misery misery — and one can do so little.

I will come to lunch Thursday.  Could it be at 43?7  It would be much nicer than a restaurant. What time?

God help us all.

B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200050.

• 2

  [date] Colette wrote “29 Nov. 1916” on the letter.

• 3

  your letter Presumably Colette’s letter of 29 November 1916 (BRACERS 112969).

• 4

  C.A’s Court Martial (Reginald) Clifford Allen (1889–1939). For further information on Allen, see BRACERS 19046, n.7. His court martial took place on 12 December 1916 in Newhaven.

• 5

  Nicod Jean Nicod (1893–1924), one of BR’s logic students in the autumn of 1916.

• 6

  saw Brockway’s case (Archibald) Fenner Brockway (1888–1988). He was court martialled at Chester Castle on 2 December 1916 for refusing to obey an order to undress for medical examination. He was sentenced to 112 days’ imprisonment with hard labour (The Times, 6 Dec. 1916). For further information on Brockway, see BRACERS 19053, n.6.

• 7

  at 43? 43 Bernard Street, called the Attic, where Colette lived with her husband, Miles Malleson.