BR TO CONSTANCE MALLESON, 26 JULY 1948
BRACERS 19852. ALS. McMaster
Edited by S. Turcon. Reviewed by K. Blackwell

<letterhead>
Penralltgoch
Llan Ffestiniog
Merioneth1
26 July 1948

My dearest Colette

Thank you very much for the delicious soap, the pyjamas, and the loan of the book on Finland2 — also for the stamps to Conrad,3 which gave very great satisfaction.

I can’t help hoping you won’t be able to get what you want in Scotland,4 and will then try N. Wales. The country here is heavenly and it would be wonderful to have you for a neighbour. I wonder whether, in any case, you will come for a visit? September would be best, as during August I have to go to Amsterdam,5 and after September we are in London. Our cottage is so small that we put visitors at the Hotel,6 which is quite tolerable. At the moment, Kate7 and her husband8 are here. He is shy, scholarly, and very learned — he can explain the 17 cases of Finnish nouns. I like him and Kate is very happy.

Much much love dearest Colette.

Your
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 200859.

• 2

  loan of the book on Finland Probably J. Hampden Jackson, Finland (London: Allen & Unwin, 1938), given by Colette to Kenneth Blackwell. In the book she wrote: “B.R. thought well of this book in 1949.”

• 3

  Conrad Conrad Sebastian Robert Russell, born 15 April 1937 to BR and his wife Patricia.

• 4

  want in Scotland She was looking for a house to buy.

• 5

  go to Amsterdam For the International Congress of Philosophy, August 11–18.

• 6

  at the Hotel The Pengwern Arms in Llan Ffestiniog.

• 7

  Kate Katharine Jane Russell, born 29 December 1923 to BR and his wife Dora. Her surname became Tait upon her marriage.

• 8

  her husband Charles William Stuart Tait (1923–2017), an American, whom Kate met when they were both during graduate work — she at Radcliffe and he at Harvard. The couple would have five children, but their marriage eventually ended in divorce. Despite that, they are buried together in St. Levan churchyard in Cornwall.