BRACERS Record Detail for 19082

To access the original letter, email the Ready Division.

Collection code
RA3
Recent acquisition no.
596
Document no.
200050
Box no.
6.64
Source if not BR
Malleson, Constance
Recipient(s)
Malleson, Constance
Sender(s)
BR
Date
1916/11/29*
Form of letter
ALS
Pieces
1
Notes, topics or text

"I am writing a lot of stuff."

A literary version of this letter was prepared, letter number 6, document .052355, record 99806, with the date of 28 November 1916.

Transcription

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. A condensed version of the letter was typed at a later date (RA1 710.052355, no. 6, p. 11), with the date of 28 November 1916, using the initial “L” for BR, for their literary letters collection. BR has corrected the fake address and changed “L” to “B” by hand.  Fictitious initials used in the text remain: “P” is Nicod and “R” is Clifford Allen.

  • 2

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

  • 3

    your letter Presumably her letter of 29 November 1916 (BRACERS ??).

  • 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.

Permission
Everyone
Transcription Public Access
Yes
Record no.
19082
Record created
May 23, 2014
Record last modified
Mar 21, 2024
Created/last modified by
duncana